By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun said Saturday that he will dedicate himself to ecosystem protection in rural areas including preserving wetlands after retiring from office next February.
Roh said he will go back to his hometown, Bongha village of Gimhae City in South Gyeongsang Province, ``as promised.''
His five-year term ends on Feb. 25. He is banned from seeking reelection under the Constitution.
``I'll be with you as a community volunteer next year,'' the President said in a ceremony marking the launch of local volunteer groups in the province, where the 2008 Ramsar Conference will take place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4 next year.
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands adopted in the Iranian coastal city of Ramsar in 1971.
Roh said he will make efforts to build a national center for wetlands protection and an ``East Asia Ramsar Center'' in the province.
Roh's reported post-retirement plans have stirred up controversy.
Reports said Roh's presidential security service has already purchased 36,459 sqare meters of land in the Bongha village to construct ``Roh Moo-hyun Town.'' Inje University in Gimhae is reportedly building a memorial hall for Roh.