Condolences for the Passing of Huh Chang-soo GS Honorary Chairman's Mother: Lee Myung-bak and Chey Tae-won Pay Tribute

Empty Funeral Hall Set Up at Seoul National University Hospital on the 4th
Visits by Kim Bu-gyeong, Koo Kwang-mo, Shin Dong-bin, Hyun Jeong-eun, and Others

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin is entering the funeral hall of Mrs. Gu Wi-sook, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Jung Dong-hoon

Condolences from political and business circles continue at the funeral hall of the late Gu Wi-sook, mother of Honorary Chairman Huh Chang-soo of GS Group.

On the 4th, at the funeral hall set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, visitors included Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group; Koo Bon-neung, Chairman of Heesung Group; Koo Ja-kyun, Chairman of LS Electric; Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of the LS Board of Directors, representing the extended LG family, as well as business leaders such as Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group; Hyun Jeong-eun, Chairwoman of Hyundai Group; Chung Mong-gyu, Chairman of HDC Group; and Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group.

The heads of major business groups remained reserved even when asked simple questions by reporters about their relationship with the deceased, reflecting a cautious atmosphere amid political instability.

Gu passed away on the afternoon of the previous day (the 3rd) at 5 p.m. due to old age, at the age of 96. She married the late Huh Jun-gu, Honorary Chairman of GS Construction and the third son of the late Huh Man-jung, founder of GS, in 1945. She had five sons: Huh Chang-soo, Honorary Chairman of GS Group; Huh Jung-soo, Chairman of GS Neotek; Huh Jin-soo, Senior Advisor of GS Caltex; Huh Myung-soo, Senior Advisor of GS Construction; and Huh Tae-soo, Chairman of GS Group. The chief mourner is her eldest son, Honorary Chairman Huh Chang-soo.

At the funeral hall, her children?Honorary Chairman Huh, Chairman Huh Jung-soo, Senior Advisors Huh Jin-soo and Huh Myung-soo, and Chairman Huh Tae-soo?were present. Mrs. Lee Ju-young, wife of Honorary Chairman Huh, also greeted the mourners.

Former President Lee Myung-bak is paying his respects at the funeral hall of Mrs. Gu Wi-sook, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

More than 160 wreaths were sent from political and business circles to pay tribute to the deceased. Among those who sent wreaths were President Yoon Suk-yeol; People Power Party Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho; Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Jang In-hwa, Chairman of POSCO Group; Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group; Kwon Oh-gap, Chairman of HD Hyundai; Chung Ki-sun, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai; Park Jung-won, Chairman of Doosan Group; and Park Chan-gu, Chairman of Kumho Petrochemical Group.

From the political sphere, former President Lee Myung-bak and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum visited the funeral hall. Former President Lee said, "I have a relationship with Honorary Chairman Huh Chang-soo because he served as chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries for a long time," and added, "We talked about old times." He did not respond to questions about his thoughts on the previous day's emergency martial law.

According to GS Group, after marrying Honorary Chairman Huh Jun-gu, Gu Wi-sook devoted her life quietly supporting her husband and played a dedicated role as a devoted wife and mother. Notably, she acted as a quiet bridge between the Huh and Gu families, whose joint business partnership began in 1946 with the founding of LG, a year after Huh Jun-gu's marriage, and continued for 57 years, spanning over half a century. After Honorary Chairman Huh Jun-gu passed away in 2002, Gu actively supported the establishment of the Namchon Foundation, founded by Huh Chang-soo who inherited his father's spirit of social contribution by donating his private assets.

The funeral procession will take place at 8 a.m. on the 5th. The burial site is Gwangneung Memorial Park located in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.