[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eun-byeol] On the 12th, visitors continued to pay their respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the condolence room for Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, was set up. Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Park Yong-man, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Hong Ik-pyo, a member of the Democratic Party, visited the condolence room to offer their condolences and comfort the bereaved family.
Condolences Continue from Im Jong-seok, Yoo Hong-jun, Park Chang-jin, and Others
Yoo Hong-jun, Chair Professor at Myongji University and former Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, said after paying his respects around noon, "Mayor Park Won-soon was a man of culture," adding, "He had a very strong cultural mindset, and he worked for a long time with the painters and singers here. It is very unfortunate." Professor Yoo also served as a director of Beautiful Store, which was founded by Mayor Park.
Political figures such as Im Jong-seok, Special Advisor for Foreign Affairs and National Security to the President, Democratic Party lawmaker In Jae-geun, Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and Yoon Jae-ok of the United Future Party also visited to pay their respects. Foreign envoys, including the Ambassador of Spain to Korea and the Ambassador of South Africa to Korea, also visited the condolence room.
Park Chang-jin, Chairperson of the Special Committee for Eradicating Power Abuse of the Justice Party and former chief purser of Korean Air, who visited the condolence room late the previous afternoon, said, "We all had long-standing relationships," adding, "He gave me a lot of strength and personal help when I was going through difficult times. I express my condolences."
Regarding some members of the party, such as lawmakers Ryu Ho-jeong and Jang Hye-young, who said they would not pay respects as a sign of solidarity with the accuser of Mayor Park, Park Chang-jin said, "I am not in a position to discuss their opinions," adding, "As for my position, mourning for a human being is mourning, and other matters can be distinguished."
Jung Un-chan, President of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), also paid his respects the previous day but refrained from commenting to reporters.
It is reported that Park Won-soon's son, Park Ju-shin, who arrived late the previous afternoon, is currently staying with the family at the condolence room. Only acquaintances and family members of Mayor Park are allowed to pay respects at the condolence room set up in the funeral hall, and visits by the press or the general public are not permitted.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government set up a memorial altar in front of Seoul City Hall from 11 a.m. the previous day, allowing citizens to pay their respects. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the bereaved family decided to hold Mayor Park's funeral as a five-day funeral in the form of a "Seoul Special Mayor's Funeral (葬)," and plan to announce specific funeral procedures at 2 p.m. on the 12th.
Park Hong-geun, co-executive chairman of the funeral committee and a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly, will brief on the composition of the funeral committee, the encoffining ceremony, and the funeral schedule on the 13th at the Seoul National University Hospital funeral hall.
Petition Opposing 'Seoul Special Mayor's Funeral (葬)' Surpasses 500,000 Signatures
Meanwhile, the number of participants in the Blue House national petition opposing holding Mayor Park Won-soon's funeral as a Seoul Special Mayor's Funeral exceeded 500,000 within two days. The petition titled "Opposing a five-day funeral and Seoul Special Mayor's Funeral (葬) for Park Won-soon" had garnered over 502,000 signatures as of 11:10 a.m. that day.
The petition had already met the Blue House's official response requirement of "more than 200,000 signatures" on the day it was posted. Accordingly, the Blue House is expected to issue an official response within a month starting from the petition's closing date on the 9th of next month.
The petitioner wrote, "Due to Mayor Park Won-soon's death, the sexual harassment allegations were closed without investigation," adding, "Should the public have to witness a grand five-day funeral for a prominent politician accused of sexual harassment? It is appropriate to hold a quiet family funeral."
Meanwhile, the YouTube channel "Garo Sero Research Institute (Gaseyeon)" filed a provisional injunction against Seo Jeong-hyeop, Seoul City Administrative Deputy Mayor, at the Seoul Administrative Court the previous day, seeking to prohibit the execution of the Seoul Special Mayor's Funeral. Gaseyeon argued that although there are no legal provisions for funerals due to the death of a sitting mayor, Seoul City is proceeding with the funeral as a Seoul Special Mayor's Funeral without legal grounds, causing procedural problems and wasting budget.
The Seoul Administrative Court assigned the case to the Administrative Division 6 (Chief Judge Lee Seong-yong) and plans to hold a hearing at 3:30 p.m. that day to decide whether to accept the injunction.
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