Gimhae: A portrait of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, painted by former U.S. President George W. Bush, has been unveiled to the public for the first time at a special exhibition, organizers announced on Tuesday. The artwork, which Bush personally painted during his attendance at a memorial service for Roh in 2019, was presented to Roh's bereaved family.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the portrait is a highlight of the special exhibition titled "Hello, I'm Roh Moo-hyun," which opened at the Awakened Citizens Cultural Experience Exhibition Hall in Gimhae. The event commemorates both the 17th anniversary of Roh's death and the 80th anniversary of his birth. The exhibition began on May 15 and will run through September 27, hosted in a hall built in 2022 in Gimhae's Bongha Village, where Roh spent his post-presidential years after retiring in 2008.
The exhibition is thoughtfully divided into three sections, structured as an interview in which the late president reflects on his life and legacy. Alongside Bush's portrait, approximately 100 items are showcased, including Roh's business card, his autobiography, materials related to the democratization movement in the Busan area, and the iconic "Hope Piggy Banks" from his 2002 presidential campaign-a grassroots fundraising initiative that remains a significant part of his political story.