Honorary Chairman Jo Seok-rae Passes Away at Age 89 on the 29th
Jo Yang-rae, Hong Ra-hee, Jo Won-tae, Han Duck-soo and Others Also Visit
From the afternoon of the 30th, condolences from business circles and political and government figures continued at the funeral hall of Jo Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung Group, who passed away on the 29th. The bereaved family, including the eldest son and chief mourner Jo Hyun-joon, Chairman, and the third son Jo Hyun-sang, Vice Chairman, welcomed mourners at the funeral hall of Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, after the encoffining at 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. onward.
The second son, Jo Hyun-moon, former Vice President of Hyosung, arrived at the funeral hall at 2 p.m., stayed for five minutes, and then left. Dressed in a black suit and black tie, Jo maintained a stern expression as he clasped his hands and descended to the basement where the funeral hall was set up.
Former Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-moon of Hyosung is entering the funeral hall at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the late Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung and his father, is being laid to rest at 2 p.m. on the 30th. Photo by Joint Press Corps
Jo met with his older brother, Chairman Jo Hyun-joon, and younger brother, Vice Chairman Jo Hyun-sang, who were keeping vigil at the funeral hall.
After finishing his condolences, Jo was bombarded by reporters asking, "What did you discuss with your brothers?" and "Will you visit the funeral hall again?" but he kept his lips tightly sealed and left the funeral hall.
In July 2014, Jo filed complaints and accusations against his older brother Jo Hyun-joon and others over allegations of embezzlement and breach of trust. This incident is known as the "Hyosung Brothers' Conflict." In response, Jo Hyun-joon's side filed a countersuit in 2017.
Jo's name was not listed on the family members' list displayed at the entrance of the funeral hall. It is known that Jo was unable to be present at Honorary Chairman Jo's deathbed.
On the 30th, an information screen was set up in front of the funeral hall of Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of the Hyosung Group, inside Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The name of the second son, Cho Hyun-moon, former Vice President of Hyosung, was omitted from the list of bereaved family members. [Photo by Choi Seo-yoon]
The first visitor to the funeral hall that day was Kim Chang-beom, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Economic Organization Federation (KEOF), who arrived at 12:55 p.m.
From the business community, Jo Seok-rae's younger brother, Jo Yang-rae, Honorary Chairman of Korea & Company Group, was the first to arrive. Jo Yang-rae, along with his second son Jo Hyun-beom, Chairman of Korea & Company Group, stayed for over an hour from 1:20 p.m. to offer condolences.
Cho Yang-rae, Honorary Chairman of Korea & Company Group (bottom), and his second son Cho Hyun-beom, Chairman of Korea & Company Group (center), are entering the funeral hall at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the funeral of Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung Group, is being held at around 1:20 p.m. on the 30th. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
After paying his respects, Jo Hyun-beom spoke to reporters about the deceased, saying, "Father's hearing is poor. He is very saddened," and added, "He regretted not being able to see his older brother (Honorary Chairman Jo Seok-rae) in his final days." He also said, "Old photos from the deceased's belongings brought back memories of high school days, and he missed his uncle a lot."
Jo Hyun-beom said, "My uncle suffered a lot mentally and physically in his final days. Even though he was 89 years old, it was not a peaceful passing, so my heart aches deeply," and added, "I hope he has gone to a good place and rests comfortably." He continued, "I kept comforting my aunt and stayed by her side."
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong also visited the funeral hall. He arrived at around 2:03 p.m., stayed for about 30 minutes, and comforted the bereaved family, including Hyosung Group Chairman Jo Hyun-joon. Lee came together with his mother, Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Samsung Museum Leeum.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong entered the funeral hall at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the late Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Samsung Museum of Art Leeum, and Cho Seok-rae, honorary chairman of Hyosung Group, have their mourning rooms set up, at 2:03 p.m. on the 30th. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
Hong Ra-hee stayed for about 2 hours and 40 minutes until 4:45 p.m., after sending off Lee Jae-yong. Lee Seo-hyun, Chairman of the Samsung Welfare Foundation and younger sister of Lee Jae-yong (right), visited the funeral hall around 4:35 p.m. together with her husband Kim Jae-yeol, President of Samsung Global Research.
Samsung and Hyosung families have had a deep connection since the founders' era. The late Lee Byung-chul, founder of Samsung, and the late Jo Hong-je, founder of Hyosung, jointly invested to establish the trading company Samsung C&T Corporation.
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun is leaving after paying his respects at the funeral hall set up for Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung Group, at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 30th. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun visited the funeral hall with his wife Jung Ji-sun at around 4:27 p.m. After offering condolences, Chairman Chung told reporters, "He was a good person. He treated us very well." He added, "I comforted the bereaved family, hoping he goes to a good place."
Choi Chang-won, Chairman of SK Supex Council and cousin of SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won, also visited the funeral hall to console the family. After paying his respects, he told reporters, "(Honorary Chairman Jo Seok-rae) was a remarkable person," and "He had a great influence on the industrial sector."
Choi Chang-won, Chairman of SK Supex Council (far left), Lee Seo-hyun, Chairwoman of Samsung Welfare Foundation (far right), and Kim Jae-yeol, President of Samsung Global Research, along with his spouse, are leaving after paying their respects at the funeral hall set up for Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung Group, at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 30th. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
OCI Group Chairman Lee Woo-hyun visited the funeral hall at around 6:16 p.m. that day.
Before offering condolences, he told reporters, "(Honorary Chairman Jo Seok-rae) was an elder who lived in the same neighborhood as me for a long time." He added, "Also, since I have known Chairman Jo Hyun-joon and Vice Chairman Jo Hyun-sang for a long time, it was natural for me to come and pay my respects."
Lee Woo-hyun, Chairman of OCI Group, is entering the funeral hall at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the late Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung, is being mourned, at around 6:16 p.m. on the 30th. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae visited the funeral hall at around 6:55 p.m. to console the bereaved family.
After about 15 minutes of condolences, Chairman Cho told reporters, "I am close with Chairman Jo Hyun-joon," and added, "I recently went through a similar experience, so I understand the difficulties well."
Chairman Cho Won-tae of Hanjin Group is seen leaving the funeral hall at Yonsei Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the late Honorary Chairman Cho Seok-rae of Hyosung Group's wake was held, on the 30th after paying his respects and answering reporters' questions. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
Political and government figures also continued to visit. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, former Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Jun-kyung, former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, former National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-chan, and former Senior Advisor of the Democratic Party Jung Dae-chul visited the funeral hall.
Prime Minister Han told reporters after paying respects, "When I was Prime Minister, he contributed greatly as chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (now KEOF) to fostering friendly relations between Korea and the U.S.," and added, "He was a businessperson I always respected, so I came personally to offer condolences." Mayor Oh said, "I did not personally know the deceased, but I came to offer condolences to the bereaved family."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is leaving after paying his respects at the funeral hall of Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of the Hyosung Group, set up at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 30th. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
At the funeral hall, floral tributes from business circles and political and government figures to comfort Honorary Chairman Jo Seok-rae on his final journey were displayed. Floral wreaths sent by President Yoon Suk-yeol and former President Lee Myung-bak were placed side by side on both sides of the funeral hall.
Floral tributes were also sent by Jo Yang-rae, Honorary Chairman of Korea & Company Group; Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group; Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group; Kim Seung-yeon, Chairman of Hanwha Group; Huh Tae-soo, Chairman of GS Group; Chung Mong-joon, Chairman of Asan Foundation; Koo Ja-eun, Chairman of LS Group; Park Jung-won, Chairman of Doosan Group; Lee Woong-yeol, Honorary Chairman of Kolon Group; Ryu Jin, Chairman of Poongsan Group and KEOF, among others, honoring the deceased.
On the 30th, the funeral hall of Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of Hyosung Group, at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul [Photo by Hyosung Group]
Honorary Chairman Jo, who had been hospitalized and receiving treatment at Seoul National University Hospital due to deteriorating health, passed away on the 29th at 6:38 p.m. at the age of 89.
The funeral will be held over five days, with the farewell ceremony on the 2nd of next month.
The funeral was conducted with former Prime Minister Lee Hong-gu as Honorary Funeral Chairman and Hyosung Vice Chairman Lee Sang-woon as Funeral Chairman.
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