In Pictures: South Korea mourns the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun

[BirminghamExaminer]

Excerpt:

Former President Roh of South Korea left a short suicide note before jumping from a cliff near his home last Saturday. He died of head injuries. The former president had been under investigation for allegedly paying family members $6 million during his 2003-2008 presidency.

Though Mr. Roh apologized last month, he never admitted he was involved in the allegations made against him. The suicide of the once very popular president has left South Korea in mourning. His brief suicide note didn't allude to the allegations against him and read simply:

"I can't imagine the countless agonies down the road. The rest of my life would only be a burden for others. I can't do anything because I'm not healthy. I can't read books, nor can I write.

Don't be too sad. Isn't life and death all part of nature? Don't be sorry. Don't blame anybody. It's fate. Please cremate me. And please leave a small tombstone near home. I've long thought about that."

Mr. Roh's suicide has caused some South Koreans to ponder the political tradition of new presidents to attack or punish former presidents to gain political capital. Many are expressing anger toward South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak who blame him and prosecutors for persecuting the former president, concluding that the allegations of bribery payments led to his suicide.

You can see some pretty amazing photos here.

[necso]

1. A thoughtful, dignified note.

My condolences to his family; a sad but honorable death.

At the end, only his principles are left to a man.

...

Let this moment of sadness give us all pause: there's already so much suffering in the world, must there be more? Must brother kill brother?