Editing History of South Korea (section)

===Roh Moo-hyun, 2003–2008===
{{Main|Roh Moo-hyun}}

[[Roh Moo-hyun]] was elected to the presidency in December 2002 by direct election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roh Moo-hyun Wins S. Korean Presidential Election - 2002-12-19 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2002-12-19-28-roh-67555542/387947.html |work=VOA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=agencies |first1=Staff and |title=Roh wins S Korean elections  |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/dec/19/northkorea |work=the Guardian |date=19 December 2002 |language=en}}</ref> His victory came with much support from the younger generation and civic groups who had hopes of participatory democracy, and Roh's administration consequently launched with the motto of "participation government". Unlike the previous governments, the administration decided to take a long-term view and execute market-based reforms gradually.<ref>Tom Ginsburg, Albert H. Y. Chen (2008, p104)</ref> This approach did not please the public: approval ratings fell by the end of 2003.<ref name="rmh olsen">Edward A. Olsen (2005, p92)</ref>

The Roh administration succeeded in overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, diluting the collusive ties between politics and business, empowering civil society, settling the South Korea-United States trade disagreement, continuing summit talks with North Korea, and launching the high-speed train system [[Korea Train Express|KTX]]. But despite a boom in the stock market, youth unemployment rates were high, real estate prices skyrocketed, and the economy lagged.<ref name="rmh doosan">{{in lang|ko}} [https://archive.today/20130129192655/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=769165 Roh Moo-hyun] at [[Doosan Encyclopedia]]</ref>

In March 2004, the National Assembly voted to impeach Roh regarding breach of election laws and corruption. This motion rallied his supporters and affected the outcome of the [[2004 South Korean legislative election|parliamentary election]] held in April, with the ruling party becoming the majority. Roh was reinstated in May by the Constitutional Court, which had overturned the verdict. However, the ruling party then lost its majority in [[Elections in South Korea#2005-10-26 by-election|by-elections in 2005]], as discontinued reform plans, continual labor unrest, Roh's personal feuds with the media, and diplomatic friction with the United States and Japan caused criticism of the government's competence on political and socioeconomic issues and on foreign affairs.<ref name="rmh olsen" /><ref name="rmh bbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2535143.stm Obituary:Roh Moo-hyun], BBC News, 23 May 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/washington/14korea.html?_r=2&ref=asia&oref=slogin US to roll out tepid welcome for President of South Korea], New York Times, 14 September 2006.</ref>

In April 2009, after leaving office, Roh Moo-hyun and his family members were investigated for bribery and corruption; Roh denied the charges. On 23 May 2009, Roh committed suicide by jumping into a ravine.<ref name="rmh bbc" /><ref>[http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2009050139968 Ex-Pres. Roh MH Denies Bribery Charges], Donga Ilbo, 1 May 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8065101.stm S. Korea stunned by Roh's suicide], BBC News, 25 May 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.</ref>