Silent Procession of Ruling and Opposition Parties Paying Respects at Pastor Cho Yong-gi's Funeral... "Grief Over Losing a Great Leader"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and governor of Gyeonggi Province, is paying his respects at the funeral hall of the late Pastor Cho Yong-gi, set up at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul on the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As Pastor Cho Yong-gi, founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church, passed away, a procession of condolences from the political sphere continued.

On the 15th, from early morning, politicians from both ruling and opposition parties appeared one after another at the condolence site set up at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, visited Pastor Cho's funeral hall around 8 a.m. that day. After paying his respects, Lee met with representatives from the Full Gospel Church and recalled the late pastor, saying, "I had the opportunity to have a meal with Pastor Cho, and I remember his childlike smile beaming with joy. He was truly a person full of energy and love."

Following him, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, also visited the condolence site and said, "I pray for the repose of Pastor Cho, who was a key figure in the revival of Christianity in Korea during the 1970s and 1980s."

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who recently withdrew from the primary race, also paid his respects and mourned, saying, "The sorrow of losing such a great leader is immense."

Opposition presidential candidates also visited the condolence site. Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong said to reporters after paying respects, "Pastor Cho's ministry contributions to Korean Christianity during his lifetime are worthy of everyone's respect, and I believe they represent a great tradition of Christianity that Korean Christianity must continue."

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also said, "It is heartbreaking to see one of the spiritual leaders who led Korean Christianity depart like this."

In the afternoon, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, a People Power Party presidential candidate, People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo, and Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, are scheduled to visit the funeral hall.