Kim Ki-hyun "A Generous Politician"
Lee Nak-yeon "A Magnanimous and Broad-minded Politician"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] A stream of condolences from politicians of both ruling and opposition parties continued at the funeral hall of the late former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong. Lee was a representative figure of the conservative camp and remained in the prime minister position even after the collapse of the DJP (Kim Dae-jung?Kim Jong-pil) coalition government during Kim Dae-jung’s administration.
On the evening of the 10th, Kim Ki-hyun, acting leader of the People Power Party, visited the funeral hall and said, "I did not have a deep personal connection," but added, "Considering the current political situation where the ruling and opposition parties are forming confrontation lines, I miss him as he was a politician who practiced magnanimous politics." He was accompanied by floor leaders including lawmakers Kang Min-kuk and Jeon Ju-hye.
Former leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yeon, also visited the funeral hall around the same time. Reflecting on the 'politician Lee Han-dong' he encountered as a parliamentary reporter, he said, "He was a generous and broad-minded politician. When I went to pay New Year’s greetings at his home on January 1st, there was always plenty of Pocheon Sundae (blood sausage). That demeanor remains in my memory."
Kim, the acting leader, and former leader Lee stayed at the funeral hall and briefly met at the same table. However, their conversation mainly focused on the deceased, and former leader Lee said, "There was no discussion about current issues."
Earlier in the afternoon, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, visited the funeral hall and expressed his condolences, saying, "He was someone who valued dialogue and compromise politics more than anyone else."
Former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, Kim Jong-in, recalled a recent meal together and expressed regret, saying, "Although his health was fragile, I thought he could hold on longer, but he suddenly passed away."
Former lawmaker Seo Cheong-won said, "He was someone who held early morning meetings every day after the three-party merger," and mourned, "Thinking about how he used to drink from a large soju cup (daepo), he should have lived at least ten more years..." Remembrances continued with comments such as "Decisive as a politician, gentle personally" (lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo), "A politician with bold lines" (former Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil), and "A symbol of inclusiveness" (former lawmaker Na Kyung-won).
Former National Assembly Speakers Park Hee-tae and Moon Hee-sang, former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-sung and Kim Hwang-sik, and former Blue House Chiefs of Staff Lee Byung-gi and Han Kwang-ok also paid their respects. Visits from ruling party figures including lawmaker Kim Jin-pyo continued. From the People Power Party, lawmakers Park Dae-chul and Song Seok-jun, former lawmakers Chung Mong-joon, Lee In-je, Won Yoo-chul, Oh Shin-hwan, and Kim Hoe-sun, as well as former ministers Maeng Hyung-kyu and Kim Hee-jung, also offered condolences. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon reportedly visited the funeral hall late at night.
The late former Prime Minister Lee passed away on the 8th due to an illness. The funeral procession is scheduled for 6 a.m. on the 11th, and the burial site will be Daejeon National Cemetery.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
