Roh Moo-hyun GOM was a South Korean lawyer and politician who served as President of South Korea from 2003 to 2008.
Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his election to the presidency. He achieved a large following among younger internet users, which aided his success in the presidential election.
Roh's election was notable for the arrival in power of a new generation of Korean politicians, the so-called 386 Generation. This generation had been veterans of student protests against authoritarian rule and advocated a conciliatory approach towards North Korea, even at the expense of good relations with the United States. Roh himself was the first South Korean president to be born after the end of Japanese rule in Korea. Roh's 2002 election victory also ended the "Three Kim period" domination of South Korea politics since 1970s.
South Korea received the highest marks on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index under his administration.