As a result of the great choice of the people, I have been given the honoured responsibility of presiding over the new administration of the republic… - Roh Moo-hyun

I painted a kind and sympathetic man. I painted a man who respected the fundamental rights of all citizens and today I pray that his vision for human rights for Korea will extend North across the border. I painted a strong leader who was not afraid to speak his mind, even to the president of the United States.

I hope to see the kind of political culture that solves problems through dialogue and compromise, not through confrontation and conflict.

When he came to office, Roh appeared to offer South Korea a new start. He was relatively youthful, independent and seemed ready to tackle the country’s deeply embedded political corruption. In addition to promising not to “kowtow to the Americans” he also supported the “sunshine” policy of diplomatic approach towards North Korea. Yet Roh’s term was riddled with problems. At one point he threatened to quit and on another he voiced his fears that he was too “incompetent” to serve as the president. There was also controversy when he and his supporters left the Millennium Democratic Party in 2003 to form a new party, the Uri Party. His decision to send South Korean troops to Iraq was deeply unpopular while his diplomatic pursuit of the north was seized on by his opportunist as appeasement.