[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, announced on the 12th that he met with Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min at the funeral hall of the late General Baek Seon-yeop and requested the burial of General Baek at the Seoul National Cemetery.
After visiting General Baek’s funeral hall set up at Seoul Asan Medical Center in the afternoon, Joo told reporters about this.
Joo said, "I protested to Chief of Staff Noh, saying that this elder should be properly honored. Eleven hundred thousand comrades are buried at the Dongjak-dong National Cemetery in Seoul, so why can’t he be buried there?" He added, "But Chief Noh did not respond and left."
Regarding the possibility of burial at the Seoul National Cemetery, he said, "I think it is difficult. Since the administration is setting the policy, I believe it is hard without a decision from President Moon Jae-in." He continued, "The bereaved family said they would follow the decision for Daejeon National Cemetery, though I cannot tell if they are sincere."
Joo also said, "I wrote in the condolence book as well, but I am sorry that we could not properly honor a war hero who saved the country. This elder personally established the Dongjak-dong National Cemetery, and since 110,000 comrades who famously passed away during the Korean War are buried there, it is only natural to bury him there. I have criticism and regret that this government could not properly honor this elder."
Regarding the possibility of paying respects at the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s funeral hall, he said, "This place is for General Baek, so I don’t think it is appropriate to answer."
Kim Jong-in, the party’s emergency committee chairman, also visited General Baek’s funeral hall to pay respects that day. Regarding the conservative camp’s claim that the burial should be in Seoul rather than Daejeon National Cemetery, he said, "As far as I know, he wished to be buried with the soldiers who died in the Korean War at the National Cemetery’s military section, and I heard he even chose the spot. Basically, I find it hard to accept the reason that he cannot be buried at the National Cemetery in Seoul and must be buried elsewhere."
Kim and other United Future Party leaders had not visited the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s funeral hall as of that day. Regarding criticism that the party was neglecting the mayor’s memorial, he said, "The sudden death is very regrettable as a human being," but added, "Other matters should be judged with sound common sense."
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