Only Yoon Seok-yeol Among Presidential Candidates Found
Interred at Daejeon National Cemetery After Funeral Ceremony That Day
Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, paid his respects on the night of the 13th at the funeral hall of the late Major Shim Jeong-min (29), who died in the Hwaseong fighter jet crash accident. Yoon is seen shaking hands with officials from the 10th Fighter Wing. (Photo by People Power Party Election Campaign Headquarters)
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, visited the funeral hall of the late Major Shim Jeong-min (29), who died in the Hwaseong fighter jet crash, on the 13th to pay his respects.
Candidate Yoon visited the funeral hall set up at the Suwon base in Gyeonggi Province around 11 p.m. that day on a private schedule. He reportedly told the bereaved family, "We will not forget your son's sacrifice."
Earlier, on the 12th, Candidate Yoon posted on Facebook, "I pray for the repose of Major Shim, who gave his life for the country, and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family," adding, "It is the duty of the nation and its people to remember the deceased's sacrifice and dedication and to honor the family."
The Air Force conducted the condolence visit to the funeral hall privately due to the COVID-19 spread situation. Among the presidential candidates, only Candidate Yoon has been confirmed to have visited the funeral hall so far. President Moon Jae-in also did not visit Major Shim's funeral hall.
The F-5E fighter jet piloted by Major Shim sharply descended while ascending after taking off from Suwon base at around 1:43 p.m. on the 11th. The late Major prepared for emergency ejection procedures but ultimately could not escape.
The Air Force is investigating the exact cause of the accident, believing that Major Shim missed the timing for emergency ejection to prevent the fighter jet from crashing into residential areas.
On the same day, Major Shim's funeral was held at the 10th Fighter Wing in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and his remains are scheduled to be interred at the National Daejeon Cemetery in the afternoon.
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