Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin (left) entering the funeral hall at Samsung Seoul Hospital in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's wake was held on the afternoon of the 26th. Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea known as the so-called 'Samsung sniper,' visited the funeral hall of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee and shared the conversation he had with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.
On the 28th, Park appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "My presence might be uncomfortable for them. I thought that me going to pay respects to the deceased might be somewhat comforting to the public." He added, "It was a family funeral, so I wondered how they would treat me when I arrived, but when they saw me, Vice Chairman Lee took a couple of steps forward, shook my hand, and said, 'Thank you so much for coming like this.'"
He continued, "I honestly said, 'I was worried whether my coming would be uncomfortable for the bereaved family, so I hesitated to come or not.' Then (Vice Chairman Lee) said, 'Thank you so much for coming, and just your presence today is a great comfort.' Mrs. Hong Ra-hee, who was beside him, also said 'Thank you' and spoke to me earnestly," he recounted.
Regarding the situation at the time, he said, "A funeral hall seems to be a place like that. Even if there are lingering feelings, it seems to be a time to sort them out."
He added, "The reason I rated Vice Chairman Lee at the top price today (if evaluated by stock price) is because 'an era has passed. Now the era of Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has come.' Although he has led the Samsung group for 5 to 6 years, during which there were many mistakes and problems, it can be seen as a time for a second start."
Meanwhile, Park has been active as a Samsung sniper, raising issues about Chairman Lee's secret accounts and problems in the merger process of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2017.
He is also leading the effort to revise the Insurance Business Act to require Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance to sell all Samsung Electronics shares they hold except for 3% of total assets.
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