Death of “Mr Clean”, Rep. Roe Hoe Chan
by: Jay Lee
Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the opposition Justice Party, who was being probed over a bribery scandal was found deceased in Jung-gu, Seoul, Monday (July 23). He was 61.
According to police, Roh was found lying dead by an apartment security guard in front of an apartment building, where the late lawmaker’s mother and younger brother live, at 9:38 a.m.
Rep. Roh had faced an investigation over an allegation that he received money from an associate of an influential blogger who was jailed in an online opinion-rigging scandal. Roh was under inquiry over accusations he accepted over $44,000 from a blogger at the center of an online opinion-rigging scandal.
The accusation tarnished the clean-cut perception of Rep. Roh, a former labor activist who has continued to be a figure for progress in South Korea.
Yonhap News said Roh, left a suicide note in his apartment admitting to receiving money but dismissing any wrongdoing. In the note, Roh atoned for not moving through proper methods regarding “sponsorship” when accepting the money. “It was a foolish choice and shameful decision. I must take responsibility,” Roh stated.
Roh also apologized to his party. “Above all, I have tarnished the name of our party that has come this far against all the odds. I stop here, but the party should move proudly forward.” Despite his last plea, the image of the progressive party has been significantly hampered as its star politician admitted to receiving illicit funds.
Rep. Roh’s death triggered an outpouring of sympathy from many South Koreans.
President Moon Jae-in said his “heart really aches” over “the sad news” of Rep. Roh’s death.
The independent counsel examining the rigging scandal, Huh Ik-bum, announced at a televised briefing that he felt distressed by the “tragic news” of Rep. Roh’s death. Rep. Huh said he respects Rep. Roh and will pray for his soul.
The death of this lawmaker who had dedicated his entire life fighting the military dictatorship and advocating the spread of progressive values is saddening and tragic for many in South Korea. The anguish is compounded by the inquiries of what could have brought a man who was a symbol of progressive politics and who had played a key role in its popularization to end his life and whether he had been left with no other choice.
Furthermore, Roh’s death is a considerable loss for Korean politics. The outpouring of grief from all spectrums of Korean politics reveals how much he was respected and loved.
It is unfortunate he ended his life mired in a bribery scandal. His unexpected death is reminiscent of that of late President Roh Moo-hyun, who similarly took his own life in May 2009 amid a corruption probe.
Despite the lawmaker’s death, it is crucial that the special counsel gets to the bottom of the Druking scandal.