Kim Boo-kyum and Ban Ki-moon Pay Respects... Various Sectors Mourn Late Prime Minister Lee Han-dong's Final Journey

Condolence Visit at Funeral Hall: Candidate Kim "As a First-Term, Responded Sincerely to Various Requests as Prime Minister"
Former Prosecutor General Ban "Provided Much Teaching on Duties to Uphold as a Person"

On the 9th, Kim Boo-kyum, the nominated Prime Minister, paid his respects at the funeral hall of Konkuk University Hospital in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, where the late former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong's funeral was held. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the 9th, a line of condolences from political and business figures continued at the funeral hall set up at Konkuk University Hospital in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, for the late former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong.

Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum visited the funeral hall that afternoon and recalled that he first met former Prime Minister Lee during their early days as first-term lawmakers, saying, "I remember as a junior that he sincerely answered my difficult questions."

He added, "During the International Monetary Fund (IMF) foreign exchange crisis, former Prime Minister Lee played a major role in helping President Kim Dae-jung calm public sentiment and overcome the national crisis," and mentioned, "The deceased was symbolically the Prime Minister of the 'DJP (Kim Dae-jung?Kim Jong-pil) coalition.'

On the 9th, Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, paid his respects at the funeral hall of Konkuk University Hospital in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, where the late former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong's wake was held. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who visited the funeral hall that afternoon, introduced his connection by saying, "(He) was Prime Minister when I served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade," and shared an anecdote, "He always handled everything straightforwardly and correctly. He taught me a lot about the duties to uphold both as a public official and as a person."

He continued, "He was a senior public official, and I have always tried to follow that path," and expressed his condolences, saying, "I am saddened to hear the sudden news of his passing."

Tributes from business circles also continued. At the funeral hall, condolence wreaths from Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation; Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group; and Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group, were placed.

Former Prime Minister Lee passed away on the 8th due to an illness. The funeral procession will be held at 6 a.m. on the 11th, and the burial site is undecided.