Yoon "Grateful to All Citizens and Will Remember Beautifully"
Mrs. Son Myung-soon
Son Myung-soon, wife of former President Kim Young-sam, passed away on the 7th at the age of 96.
According to the medical community, Mrs. Son passed away late in the afternoon at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, due to an illness. This is nine years after the death of former President Kim in 2015.
It is known that Mrs. Son had been hospitalized and receiving treatment at Seoul National University Hospital since December of last year.
Mrs. Son married former President Kim Young-sam in 1951 while she was a third-year student at Ewha Womans University College of Pharmacy. At that time, Kim had just entered politics as a secretary to Jang Taek-sang, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
Since then, Mrs. Son and former President Kim shared 65 years of marriage, enduring joys and hardships together until his passing. In political circles, Mrs. Son was regarded as a ‘supportive wife’ who remained the spouse of an opposition politician throughout her life, assisting her husband’s health and mood.
In 2011, former President Kim held a diamond wedding anniversary ceremony celebrating 60 years of marriage, citing one of the two things he considered the best in life as "welcoming Son Myung-soon as my wife 60 years ago," and confessed, "The reason Kim Young-sam is who he is today is thanks to my wife’s unwavering love and support."
After former President Kim’s death in November 2015, Mrs. Son continued to live at their residence in Sangdo-dong. The bereaved family includes two sons and three daughters, among them Kim Hyun-chul, chairman of the Kim Young-sam Presidential Memorial Foundation, who is a son of the former president.
Kim Hyun-chul’s son and Mrs. Son’s grandson, Kim In-gyu, a former administrative officer at the Office of the Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, has declared his candidacy for the April 10 general election in Busan’s West and East Districts and is competing in the People Power Party primary.
Mrs. Son’s funeral is expected to be held as a family ceremony over five days. The funeral hall will be set up at Seoul National University Hospital, and visitors will be received from 9 a.m. on the 8th.
The funeral procession will take place at 8 a.m. on the 11th. Mrs. Son is expected to be buried alongside former President Kim at the National Seoul National Cemetery.
On June 6, 1994, former President Kim Young-sam and Mrs. Son Myung-soon wave their hands in farewell to the send-off party from the aircraft stairs after the farewell ceremony at Tashkent Airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his condolences upon hearing the news of Mrs. Son’s passing that afternoon.
President Yoon said, "Mrs. Son has been called to heaven," and added, "Although it is heartbreaking to see her go, I believe she will be happily reunited with President Kim Young-sam in heaven."
He also said, "Mrs. Son lived a humble and warm life, maintaining a faithful belief throughout her life. She even read letters to the editor in newspapers and conveyed public sentiment to President Kim Young-sam, always playing the role of a political partner behind the scenes."
President Yoon stated, "All our people will remember Mrs. Son’s life with gratitude and beauty. I believe she will continue to pray for the country and its people from heaven, and I wish her eternal rest." He continued, "I offer my heartfelt condolences to Chairman Kim Hyun-chul and the bereaved family, and hope that Mrs. Son’s final journey will be peaceful and well attended."
President Yoon instructed that a practical support team, led by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, be organized to ensure thorough support for the funeral, according to a written briefing by spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung.
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