Yoon Welcomes Mourners After 6 PM... Political and Religious Figures Attend
Three-Day Family Funeral... Flowers and Condolences Declined
Ruling and Opposition Parties Halt Political Strife to Mourn
Political and religious figures lined up at the funeral hall of Yonsei University Honorary Professor the late Yoon Ki-jung, father of President Yoon Suk-yeol, set up at the Shinchon Severance Hospital funeral hall.
President Yoon entered the funeral hall through a separate entrance, not the main entrance of the Shinchon Severance Hospital funeral hall, around 6:11 p.m. that day, and began receiving condolences from 6:20 p.m. The Presidential Office asked for understanding as the funeral was held as a family funeral, declining flowers and condolences, but figures from various fields visited the funeral hall.
Among those who first arrived at the funeral hall were Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi, National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Jin-bok, and Senior Secretary for Public Relations Kim Eun-hye, all aides of the Presidential Office. Then, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who was on vacation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin also visited the funeral hall.
People from the ruling party leadership such as People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, Secretary-General Lee Cheol-gyu, and Policy Committee Chair Park Dae-chul, as well as lawmakers Jang Je-won and Lee Yong who have been with President Yoon since the presidential campaign, and lawmaker Kim Young-sun visited the funeral hall.
Leaders of the opposition Democratic Party, including leader Lee Jae-myung, floor leader Park Kwang-on, Policy Committee Chair Kim Min-seok, and Secretary-General Cho Jung-sik, also visited the funeral hall to pay their respects.
It is known that the Democratic Party leadership briefly met and talked with the ruling party leadership before offering condolences.
When leader Lee and others went outside the first-floor entrance, waiting YouTubers shouted protests, saying, "Where do you think you are coming here?" Reporters continued to ask questions such as "What words of comfort did you offer the President?" but they did not respond and got into their vehicles.
National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon also visited the funeral hall around 8:50 p.m. to pay their respects.
Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi and floor leader Bae Jin-kyo are scheduled to visit the funeral hall on the afternoon of the 16th.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is receiving condolences from former President Lee Myung-bak at the funeral hall set up for his father, Yoon Ki-jung, Honorary Professor at Yonsei University, at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 15th. [Photo by Presidential Office]
Former President Lee Myung-bak also visited the funeral hall around 8 p.m. with his wife Kim Ok-yoon and former Blue House aides. A Presidential Office official said, "After offering condolences, former President Lee moved to a private room with President Yoon and had a separate conversation," adding, "Former President Lee, who has experience visiting the UAE and Camp David, talked about the UAE nuclear power plant and Camp David."
Former President Moon Jae-in sent flowers earlier that afternoon and called Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi to express his condolences. It is known that through Chief Secretary Kim, former President Moon conveyed words of comfort along the lines of, "President Yoon has a special bond with his father, so his grief must be great. I hope his sorrow is not too overwhelming."
Former President Park Geun-hye and Kim Hyun-chul, son of former President Kim Young-sam, also sent flowers. The sons of former presidents?Kim Hong-eop, Kim Hyun-chul, and Noh Jae-heon?have been in contact and are reported to have planned to visit the funeral hall individually on the 16th to pay their respects.
President Yoon Suk-yeol receives condolences from Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the funeral hall set up for his father, Yoon Ki-jung, honorary professor at Yonsei University, at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 15th. [Photo by Presidential Office]
Religious figures from Christianity, Buddhism, and others, as well as government officials, also visited the funeral hall. In particular, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the funeral hall around 7 p.m. and offered words of comfort, saying, "Professor Yoon often guided President Yoon, so he must have passed away with a proud heart."
Ban also said, "I believe the late Professor Yoon Ki-jung will be watching over from heaven with great pride," and added, "I hope the Camp David summit will be a great success."
Central Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak, Presidential Commission on National Unity Chairman Kim Han-gil, former Special Committee Chair on Regional Balanced Development Kim Byung-joon, Economic, Social and Labor Council Chairman Kim Moon-soo, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon were also seen.
Additionally, Lee Cheol-woo, a Yonsei University Law School professor and elementary school classmate of President Yoon, and former National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han also paid their respects.
This is the second time during the President's term that a parent has passed away, following the death of former President Moon's mother in 2019. It is the first time for a paternal loss. Earlier, Senior Secretary for Public Relations Kim Eun-hye met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office and said, "President Yoon decided to hold a family funeral to avoid any government vacuum," and declined flowers and condolences. A Presidential Office official added, "Since Professor Yoon spent a long time in academia, there will be minimal condolences from the academic community and acquaintances," and said, "Details of President Yoon's condolence schedule will be announced later."
President Yoon is scheduled to visit the United States on the 18th to hold a trilateral meeting at Camp David with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Given the meeting's significant importance to both Korea and the international order, President Yoon plans to carry out the related schedule as planned despite his father's passing.
Meanwhile, both ruling and opposition parties expressed condolences over Professor Yoon's passing. People Power Party Chief Spokesperson Kang Min-guk said in a statement, "The late professor was a scholar who laid the foundation of statistics in Korea and was also a father who did not spare criticism, encouragement, and advice until the current President was who he is today," adding, "We pray for the repose of the deceased and offer our condolences to the bereaved family."
Senior Spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung of the Democratic Party said in a signed briefing, "We express deep condolences and sympathy to President Yoon and his family who face great sorrow," and added, "We pray for the eternal rest of Professor Yoon Ki-jung."
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