Professor Baek Nak-cheong, Representative Lee Hae-chan, and Deputy Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop Appointed as Funeral Committee Chairs for the Late Mayor Park Won-soon (Update)

Representative Park Hong-geun "5-day funeral unavoidable considering overseas family return"
"Request to stop spreading malicious SNS posts"

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Hong-geun is announcing the funeral procedures on the afternoon of the 11th at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital, where the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s body lies in repose. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Baek Nak-cheong, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Seo Jeong-hyeop, First Deputy Mayor of Seoul, have been appointed as co-chairmen of the funeral committee for the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul.

Park Hong-geun, a close aide of Mayor Park and co-executive chairman of the funeral committee, stated on the 11th in front of the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, "The funeral committee appointed a total of three people from civil society, the political circle, and the Seoul city government in accordance with the late's life path," revealing this information.

Park explained, "Professor Emeritus Baek is a literary critic and university professor who has worked as an editor for Creation and Criticism and has built a deep relationship with the deceased through various civil society activities." He added, "Lee, representing the political circle, expressed special affection for the deceased as a longtime comrade and friend in the democratization movement." Deputy Mayor Seo is currently acting as the Mayor of Seoul.

The late’s funeral will be held as a five-day funeral as scheduled. Park said, "Since a day had already passed from the date of death when Mayor Park was found, and it took time for the immediate family abroad to return, the funeral schedule had to be extended considering the timing of the encoffining."

The funeral will be conducted as a Seoul Metropolitan Mayor’s funeral (기관장(葬)) according to the government protocol, with the cremation scheduled for the 13th. On the day of the cremation, the procession will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by a farewell ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in front of City Hall. After paying final respects around City Hall where the deceased served, the procession will depart at 9:30 a.m. to Seoul Memorial Park for cremation.

Park stated, "The principle of holding a modest funeral in accordance with the late’s humble life and wishes remains unchanged," and explained, "The memorial facilities at Seoul Plaza had to be set up outdoors due to quarantine issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic." He continued, "We are well aware of the various concerns, worries, and issues surrounding the late’s death, but we ask for understanding that the funeral must reflect the condolences and hearts of the many people who wish to mourn the deceased."

Meanwhile, Park also appealed for restraint regarding unilateral claims and suspicions surrounding the late’s death at this occasion. He said, "Unconfirmed or one-sided claims about the deceased are spreading through SNS and other channels. We ask that such malicious speculative posts cease, considering not only the defamation of the deceased but also the pain of the bereaved family."

He expressed shock at the live broadcast by the YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute,' which went beyond defamation of the deceased to insult the head of state, saying, "The police have also decided to take strict legal and principled action against defamation acts spreading unverified information about Mayor Park."