"If the situation improves, we will definitely create a place to gather together"
Originally planned events include a 'Citizen Memorial Ceremony'
During last year's 5-day market, a citizen memorial altar was set up, visited by over 10,000 people
A handwritten letter by Kang Nan-hee, the wife of the late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul / Photo by Jung Cheol-seung, lawyer's Facebook
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The memorial ceremony for the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, originally scheduled for tomorrow (the 9th), will be held on a small scale to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Earlier plans for the memorial included a 'citizens' memorial' around Mayor Park's gravesite, raising concerns about the potential spread of a mass infection.
Mrs. Kang Nan-hee, the late mayor's wife, stated in a handwritten letter released on the 7th, "We would like to inform many people who miss Park Won-soon about the changes regarding the first anniversary memorial," and added, "The recent COVID-19 situation has rapidly worsened."
She continued, "The family knows well how my husband responded with what kind of heart during the MERS and COVID situations while he was mayor," and said, "We feel very sorry for my husband and the family's hearts are heavy, but we have decided that this first anniversary memorial event will be held only among family members at Jogyesa Temple."
She added, "When the COVID-19 situation improves, we will definitely gather again with those who miss Park Won-soon to talk about him and share our grief together. See you then."
Memorial Ceremony Schedule for Former Mayor Park's 1st Anniversary / Photo by Internet Community Capture
The first anniversary memorial for the late Mayor Park was scheduled to be held from the 9th to the 11th at Jogyesa Temple in Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and in Changnyeong, Gyeongnam. Changnyeong is where the late mayor's gravesite is located. Among these, the Cheondojae ritual at Jogyesa was planned to be conducted mainly by the bereaved family, followed by welcoming mourners in the front yard of the Daeungjeon Hall.
From the 10th to the 11th, a two-day citizens' memorial event including visits to the Changnyeong gravesite, greetings with the bereaved family, and ribbon tying was also prepared.
However, some citizens pointed out that such an open event could lead to a mass COVID-19 infection. According to health authorities, as of midnight on the 7th, the daily number of new domestic confirmed cases reached 1,168, surpassing the 1,000 mark, and in Seoul alone, where the memorial event was to begin, 583 confirmed cases were reported, raising concerns about further spread.
Last July, citizens paid their respects at the altar set up in front of Seoul City Hall for the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News
Meanwhile, the funeral of the late Mayor Park, who ended his life by suicide, was held as a five-day funeral on July 5th last year, designated as a special funeral by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. A public mourning site was set up in front of Seoul City Hall, where more than 10,000 citizens visited the funeral hall.
At that time, some citizens strongly opposed this decision. On July 10th last year, a petition titled "Opposition to holding Park Won-soon's funeral as a five-day special funeral by the Seoul Metropolitan Government" was posted on the Blue House's public petition board.
The petitioner stated, "Because Park passed away, the sexual harassment allegations were closed without investigation. Can we be sure that this was an honorable death?" and criticized, "Should the public watch the extravagant five-day funeral of a prominent politician who committed suicide due to sexual harassment allegations through the media? What message do you want to convey to the public?" This petition received over 590,000 signatures within a month before closing.
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