(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on May 25)

A moment for national unity

A chorus of condolence calls is pouring in lamenting the tragic death of the 16th
president of Korea. Citizens are walking more than two kilometers to express
their deep sorrow, to Bongha Village, the home of former President Roh Moo-hyun,
where his body lies in state. A steady stream of people, many holding children by
the hand, leads into downtown Seoul to burn incense at makeshift mourning altars.

Volunteers are busy helping people to express their sympathy in an orderly manner.
Yesterday, people prayed for Roh???s eternal rest in heaven and for the bereaved
family???s good health at churches, cathedrals and temples nationwide.
People conveyed a message of condolence, irrespective of age, sex or social
status, whether in the ruling or opposition camp, whether conservative or
progressive, pro-Roh or anti-Roh.
The whole nation expresses sadness - even one of the late Roh???s major political
rivals while he was in office, Park Geun-hye, former chairperson of the Grand
National Party.
Her supporters??? group, Parksamo, released a message of respect for the late
former president.
???Although we struggled with him during his whole term in office due to our
different ideologies and political stances, he was a president of great
importance from a long-term historical perspective,??? they said.
The incumbent president, Lee Myung-bak, is scheduled to visit the ceremonial
funeral hall in Bongha Village.
After a seven-day mourning period, the former president will be laid to rest in
his home village, in accordance with his will.
His suicide, jumping off a cliff, is a shocking tragedy that defies explanation.
This death is unprecedented, and it comes during a tumultuous time for Korea.
Many people are experiencing tough circumstances during this economic crisis.
The nation is also in disarray due to social conflicts, political deadlock
between the two Koreas, conflict between labor and management, the issue of
irregular workers, conflicts on legislation between the ruling and opposition
parties and physical struggles by radical labor unions.
In these circumstances, with many people feeling a sense of unease, the suicide
of the former national leader, who had been leading the country until just last
year, can only be described as stunning.
It is urgent and imperative that Korean society weather this tragic event
prudently, and strengthen its firm foundation for stability and historical
development to help the country move forward.
Most importantly, the grieving family must be shown proper respect, and the
funeral to carry Roh to his eternal rest must be conducted in a sensible and
respectful manner.
We should also take this opportunity to look back calmly on Roh???s political
legacy, which it now falls to all of us to inherit and develop. We must give his
historic presidency its due.
In a situation where conflict still runs rampant, what matters most is calm and
serenity in carrying out these difficult tasks.
As President Roh wrote in his last testament, ???Don???t blame anyone.???
That applies to all of us. Though political figures or interest groups may hold
opinions completely contrary to Roh???s, and may have engaged in bitter struggles
against him and his supporters on policy and social issues, we can only move
Korea forward through compromise. And that cannot be done by excluding the
followers of the late former president.
Similarly, it is inappropriate to blame the prosecutors for the death of
President Roh without any evidence, or to block specific persons or groups from
expressing their condolences at his funeral.
Actions like these would not resolve any conflicts and would be contrary to the
wishes of the late president.
For example: It was wrong to destroy the flowers sent by President Lee Myung-bak.
The public will simply not tolerate particular groups of people to appropriate
Roh???s death to mobilize politically and plan aggressive demonstrations.
The crowds participating in this procession of condolences intend to extend their
sympathy for President Roh and his bereaved family.
But this expression should also be a calm manifestation of the people???s will
not to exacerbate social conflict.
The bereaved family accepted the proposal of the government to hold a
???people???s funeral??? for the late president.
A people???s funeral is meant to send the deceased to eternal rest, sharing the
sadness of the whole nation and extending sympathy to the bereaved family.
In the modern history of Korea, its first president, Syngman Rhee; the great
patriot Kim Gu, and President Choi Kyu-hah all went to their eternal rest
honorably at people???s funerals.
A people???s funeral is the end, in the sense that it gives us a chance to bid
farewell to a late national leader, but it also implies a new starting point for
national accord.
We would like to suggest that while the funeral is taking place, all the various
groups reflect upon the five years of rule by our national leader, Roh Moo-hyun,
regardless of ideology or political faction.
Let us ponder what he tried to say in deciding to leap to his death. If Korean
society falls into conflict and chaos instead, we are likely to lose even more
than our former national leader.
The world is watching the Republic of Korea.
In a mature and harmonious atmosphere, we should send President Roh Moo-hyun off
with respect, conveying the heartfelt sympathy of the whole nation.
(END)