Memorial Ceremony Held for the 35th Anniversary of the Late Martyr Lee Han-yeol, Catalyst for the Nationwide June Struggle

First Ceremony Amid the Void Left by Late Mother Bae Eun-sim Earlier This Year

Older Sister Lee Sook-rye Says, "It’s Heartbreaking to See the Parents of Martyrs Leaving One by One"

At 1 p.m. on the 5th, the 35th memorial service for martyr Lee Han-yeol was solemnly held at Mangwol Park Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. His sister Lee Suk-rye (left) and Lee Hun-yeol also attended to honor the deceased's spirit.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] On the afternoon of the 5th at 1 PM, the 35th memorial service for martyr Lee Han-yeol was solemnly held at Mangwol Park Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

This is the first ceremony held in the absence of his mother, Bae Eun-sim, who passed away earlier this year.

The memorial service was hosted by the Yonsei University Lee Han-yeol Democratization Movement Memorial Association and organized by the Gwangju-Jeonnam Memorial Solidarity.

Attendees included Lee’s older sister Lee Sook-rye, younger brother Lee Hoon-yeol, Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party, Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, Lee In-sook, President of the Yonsei Democratic Alumni Association, and various figures from all walks of life who honored Lee’s noble spirit.

The memorial ceremony began with a pre-performance by Jeong Chan-kyung, a senior of Lee Han-yeol’s high school, followed by greetings from Han Dong-geon, Chairman of the Lee Han-yeol Memorial Association, and memorial speeches by Woo Sang-ho, Kang Ki-jung, and Lee Sook-rye.

Woo Sang-ho, a fellow Yonsei University alumnus and Democratic Party Emergency Committee Chairman, expressed concern, saying, "They are trying to maintain power by turning the police into a presidential direct agency and taking control. Is this not a return to the structure where an ordinary student like Lee Han-yeol had no choice but to die 35 years ago?"

He also stated, "As the National Assembly is being normalized, I have started to push for the passage of the Democratic Merit Act as the Emergency Committee Chairman. I will attempt negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties and, with the help of local lawmakers, I promise to keep this commitment."

Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, said, "We will prepare to pay deep respects to the martyrs who revived May and further nurtured democracy, their families, and those who have stood with democracy," and added, "As Mayor of Gwangju, I bow my head in gratitude to all."

Lee’s older sister, Lee Sook-rye, said, "I deeply want to hear the voice of our mother who cried out heart-wrenchingly while searching for her son," and added, "It is truly heartbreaking that the martyr’s parents, whom we used to see every year, are no longer here and have departed to be with their children."

Lee Han-yeol died after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by riot police during an anti-dictatorship protest held in front of Yonsei University on June 9, 1987. His sacrifice at the forefront of the democratization struggle sparked the nationwide June Democratic Uprising.

After the memorial speeches and performances concluded, attendees laid flowers at Lee’s grave and observed a moment of silence.