Roh Moo-hyun was the 9th President of the Republic of Korea from 2003 to 2008.
Education
It was easy for a gifted and diligent boy to study. His achievements were so impressive, that the young boy won free admission to the commercial school of Busan. After having graduated from it in 1966, he found a job in a small company.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about his dream to be a lawyer. That’s why Roh Moo-hyun decided to continue study by himself in order to pass the bar exam that gave the right to practice jurisprudence. He passed it with flying colours in 1975.
Career
After a two-year required traineeship in the Law Institute of Research and Preparation, Roh Moo-hyun used to work as a judge in Daejeon for 8 months, and in 1978 he opened his own legal aid agency.
What made Roh Moo-hyun popular (he had already been a deputy then) was his speech at the parliamentary hearings about corruption during the ruling of the President Chun Doo-hwan. It was so bright, keen and logical, that it immediately received wide public response. But in 1990 Roh Moo-hyun resigned from the deputy’s post protesting against the actions of the United Party. Its representatives were the parliamentary majority. Subsequently he had a great contribution into the creation of a new Democratic Party, which consisted of the parliamentary minority that had seceded from the main ruling party.
It’s hard to say that Roh Moo-hyun’s way into politics was easy. Thrice (in 1992, 1996 and 2000) he nominated himself during the parliamentary elections. But he never won. He didn’t manage to become the Mayor of Busan in 1995. All in all since 1988 he had nominated for a parliamentary deputy post for six times, and had won only twice.
Sometimes he had an unbearable desire to leave politics forever. It seemed it was time to keep the promise he used to give to his wife once, the promise to quit and to have normal life with the family.
But there was something that prevented Roh Moo-hyun from such a step. Despite the fact of his loss during parliamentary elections of 2000, many electors managed to appreciate the outstanding features if this persistent politic leader. Right after the elections the Internet users created a political fan club “Nosamo” that means “gathering of people who love Roh Moo-hyun”.
Vigorous activity of the fan club’s members and of other people, who shared Roh Moo-hyun’s views, contributed to the steady growth of his popularity among the population, and that had a great influence before the presidential elections of 2002. An experienced politician did not fail to use such an efficient means of informing population. That is the reason why later he was called “the President, who was made by the Internet”.
Eventually on December 19, 2002 Roh Moo-hyun won at the Presidential elections. When it became a fact, he claimed that he would do everything possible holding this post and being the servant of the people of South Korea. The official inauguration ceremony of the 9th President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, took place in the square in front of the building of the National Assembly on February 25, 2002.
Religion
The President had no religious preferences.
Politics
While becoming a politician Roh Moo-hyun was greatly influenced by the example of Abraham Lincoln. “At night on April 13, 2000 while the counting of ballots I was reading the speech of the 16th USA President Lincoln. – Roh Moo-hyun recollected later of the elections that he lost. – His speech was like a flash of light for me... We have much in common. He had also had a range of fails and losses... In the midst of war between the North and the South he didn’t consider his opponents to be his enemies. On the contrary, he was talking about the union and reconciliation of the people, who believe in one God. Through disappointments and suffering he gained trained common sense and gradually realized his aspirations...”