Kim Ok-sook, the late former President Roh Tae-woo's wife, visited the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju for the first time and apologized to the spirits of May.
On the day after the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement, on the 19th, Kim paid her respects at the May 18 cemetery. Some attendants, including her son Roh Jae-hun, chairman of the East Asia Cultural Center, and Professor Heo Min from Chonnam National University, accompanied her.
In the guestbook, Kim left a message saying, "I sincerely apologize and thank the spirits of Gwangju's May 18. I have tried my best to resolve past grievances, but I ask for your generous forgiveness for my shortcomings. I hope you will forever watch over the future of the Republic of Korea." Due to her mobility issues, Kim's guestbook message was written by Chairman Roh.
Chairman Roh told reporters on behalf of his mother, "Her health has deteriorated a lot, and I thought this might be her last May. So I brought her here despite the difficulties." He added, "My mother always expressed her desire to visit at least once. Since the first visit in 1988 (to the Mangwol-dong cemetery), she wished to come again but was unable to do so."
Kim, who was in a wheelchair, paid her respects at the memorial altar and also visited the Mangwol-dong cemetery, known as the old May 18 cemetery, to honor the grave of the late Lee Han-yeol. This was the first time Kim visited the May 18 National Cemetery since it was established in May 1997. On February 25, 1988, 37 years ago, she visited Gwangju right after the inauguration of former President Roh to pay respects at the grave of Lee.