『Roh Moo-hyun's Posthumous Autobiography』 published on the first anniversary of President Roh Moo-hyun's death

This book is an autobiography that I did not write myself.
It's just a useless imagination, but if he were alive, this is the biography he would have written himself.
Although he borrowed the writings of others, the foundation of his writings are all records he left behind.
Although he was not a full-time writer, he had published books since his days as a first-term member of the National Assembly, and left behind many interview records and oral histories.
This book is the result of all the records left behind by President Roh Moo-hyun.

This book is published to mark the first anniversary of the death of President Roh Moo-hyun.
There have been many books published about President Roh Moo-hyun, and more will be published in the future, but this will be the first and last autobiography that records his entire life from birth to death.
_ Moon Jae-in, from 'Thank You'

Published on the first anniversary of President Roh Moo-hyun's death, 『Roh Moo-hyun's Posthumous Autobiography』 contains a clear chronological account of his life from birth to death, based on the deceased's books, unpublished manuscripts, notes, letters, and various interviews and oral records.
The task of organizing these records into a neat and concise style was taken on by writer Yoo Si-min.
Author Yoo devoted himself to this organizing work for six months, from August 2009 to February 2010.
All of the deceased's handwritten and oral records were reviewed and organized into a biography, and any gaps were filled in through interviews with the bereaved family and acquaintances, as well as official records.
In addition, among the many records left behind by the deceased, the work of unifying the writing style was also carried out based on the unfinished memoir notes written just before his death after retirement.
The facts were thoroughly verified through review by the bereaved family, foundation officials, and other acquaintances who had been close to the deceased, thereby minimizing the possibility of error.
And in the epilogue, ‘Death of a Youth,’ the image of President Roh Moo-hyun, who will remain an eternal youth, is summarized.

Lawyer Roh Moo-hyun, human rights activist Roh Moo-hyun, politician Roh Moo-hyun, and President Roh Moo-hyun are all part of 'human Roh Moo-hyun.'
All of them came together as one to become ‘the human Roh Moo-hyun.’
I believe that only by examining the entire life and death of 'the human Roh Moo-hyun' can we truly understand 'President Roh Moo-hyun.'
Although others edited the manuscript, this book is the 'authentic autobiography' of President Roh Moo-hyun, recording the events he considered important in his life.
--- From "Moon Jae-in, 'Thank You'"

Others would say it was a successful life.
But I'm not confident enough to say that.
What constitutes success and what constitutes failure in life? I'm not sure if there are any tangible criteria.
I don't really want to judge success and failure.
Looking back, I lived my life to the best of my ability as a human being.
Sometimes, I was caught up in uncontrollable anger and passion, and I caused or inflicted harm that could have been avoided.
But I always struggled to live as a proud person, following the dictates of my conscience and intuition.
Wouldn't that be enough? Anyway, I was born in a small mud hut and returned to a large, newly built house.
I will live and die in this house.
This is my destiny.
--- From the "Prologue"

The world has changed, but in a strange way.
The military regime wielded the power to seize other people's property, but the democratic government had no authority to return the stolen goods.
The power was democratized without properly settling the past, and so it lost its power.
The world has become a better place for those with unfair vested interests.
It's unfair, but this may be the limit of our history.
--- From "Part 1 '2 Benefactor Kim Ji-tae'"

Among the numerous folk songs of the 1980s, I particularly liked the song “Mother.”
The phrase 'the world where people live' really touched my heart.
So, from the time I entered politics, I dreamed of the first verse of this song, ‘A world where people live,’ and used it as a campaign slogan for the 13th general election in 1988.
This song was often sung during the 2002 Democratic Party presidential primary.

The world where people live returns
When you and I are free, shoulder to shoulder
Our legs are swollen by themselves
I'm running to the street of liberation
Ah, our victory
The hot tears of a dead comrade
Ah, with blazing eyes
I will fight without fear
For that day of mother's bright smile --- From "Part 2, 'The World Where 3 People Live'"

Dear Ministers, do you still believe that workers' sacrifices must continue for the sake of economic development and a bigger pie? To those who hold such views, I have this to say:
You're telling me to take your children and kill them! Instead of the cold, hungry, and powerless workers, you're telling me to take your children and kill them on the job to develop this country's economy! --- From "Part 2, 'Becoming a 5th National Assembly Member'"

Candidate Heo Sam-soo, who four years ago criticized President Kim Young-sam as suffering from “presidential disease,” said, “I will dedicate myself to the development of Busan under the leadership of President Kim Young-sam, the great leader of our nation.”
Kim Young-sam, the leader of the Democratic Liberal Party, who four years ago labeled him a "rebel gunman" and said he should be "sent to prison, not the National Assembly," said this during a campaign rally.
“Mr. Heo Sam-su is a loyal soldier.
If you choose me, I will use it carefully.
“If you want to make me president, please elect Mr. Heo Sam-su as a member of the National Assembly.” The mulberry field changed into the sea.
I didn't have the power to defeat President Kim Young-sam.
So he lost his seat in the National Assembly.
--- From "Part 2 '10 First Failures'"

The press should be the power of the citizens.
The mission of the media is to monitor and control political and market power on behalf of citizens, thereby preventing those in power from violating the rights and values ​​of citizens.
And the role of the media is to manage the public sphere so that competition for political and market power is fair and transparent.
However, conservative newspapers used to act as servants of those in power, but after being released from that role, they colluded and aligned with various powers.
He unilaterally destroyed President Roh Tae-woo by moving from an alliance with President Roh Tae-woo to candidate Kim Young-sam.
Then, by holding the Lee Hoi-chang card, he completely trampled on President Kim Young-sam.
They abandoned their original role as fair judges and jumped directly into the field in collusion with the alternatives to power.
--- From "Part 3 '20 Political Power and Media Power'"

As long as the single-member district system, where only the top candidate survives, is combined with the regional rivalry that makes rational debate impossible, our politics will not be able to move forward even a single step.
There is no example of a country without developed politics becoming a developed country.
This is not simply a political issue; it is a task that determines the future of the nation.
This is because all important issues that affect the lives of the people ultimately converge into politics.
In Yeongnam, all talent and resources are flocking to the Grand National Party.
In Honam, people are flocking to the Democratic Party.
In that region, it is virtually impossible to enter the National Assembly through another party.
As a countermeasure, regional parties in Chungcheong Province also maintained a tenacious survival force.
Even among voters in the metropolitan area, there is a strong tendency to vote based on their parents' and their hometowns.
Inciting hatred against other regional parties and leaders is a far more effective campaign strategy than developing policies.
Policy differences escalate into emotional fights, and emotional fights turn into physical fights.
In every political party, hardliners dominate the conversation.
It is difficult for the politics of dialogue and compromise to take root.
Even if there is a large-scale replacement of members of the National Assembly, it will be of no use.
This was the fundamental problem of South Korean politics that I experienced for 20 years.
--- From "Part 3: '21 Grand Coalition Proposal'"

President Lee Myung-bak's Blue House, the prosecution, and conservative media outlets including Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo mocked my failure as a failure of progressivism.
He insulted and cursed not only Roh Moo-hyun's life, but also everything I have done since taking on the defense of the Burim case.
He spat on the democratization movement, the civil movement, and 20 years of politics, including 5 years as president.
This will happen over and over again until the trial is over.
They will make my failure a failure of progress.
This was what I was most afraid of from the beginning.
So I said to those who have helped me and worked with me for decades.
Roh Moo-hyun's failure is not the failure of progress.
Roh Moo-hyun has already become a name that does not fit with the beautiful ideals of justice and progress.
Roh Moo-hyun is stuck in a swamp from which he cannot escape, so abandon him.
--- From "Part 4 '7 Roh Moo-hyun's failure is Roh Moo-hyun's"

I looked back on my 20-year political career.
It was as if he had run through the water.
I believed I had changed the world even a little, but when I looked back, it was back to the way it was before.
Couldn't the path to truly changing the world, to creating a more humane world, lie elsewhere? Couldn't the presidency simply not be the right position for achieving progress? So then, who, with what, and how can change the world?

--- From "Part 4 '7 Roh Moo-hyun's failure is Roh Moo-hyun's"