Jeong Jin-seok Visits Late Jang Je-won's Funeral Hall: President Yoon Called Twice Saying "My Heart Aches"

The funeral hall for the late former National Assembly member Jang Je-won, who was found dead on the 1st after being accused of sexually assaulting his secretary, was set up in Busan on the 2nd. Chung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, visited the funeral hall to offer condolences and conveyed President Yoon Seok-yeol's sympathies to the bereaved family.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Jeong Jin-seok, Chief Secretary of the Presidential Office, visited the funeral hall set up at Haeundae Paik Hospital in Haeundae-gu, Busan, to pay respects at the funeral of former National Assembly member Jang Je-won. 2025.4.2 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

According to Yonhap News on the 2nd, after paying respects at the VIP room of Haeundae Paik Hospital funeral hall in Haeundae-gu, Busan, where the late Jang’s funeral hall was arranged, Chief Chung told reporters, "Early the day before yesterday, President Yoon received the sad news and called me, saying 'It is so heartbreaking and painful.'" He added, "The President said, 'Please go to the funeral hall on my behalf and offer deep condolences to the bereaved family.' He called twice the day before yesterday and repeatedly expressed how deeply painful it was."

Inside the funeral hall, press coverage was restricted, while at the incense-burning altar, Jang’s son Jun-yong (rapper Noel) and his wife greeted mourners.

On this day, besides Chief Chung, dozens of ruling party figures including Joo Ho-young, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly; Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader of the People Power Party; National Assembly members Kim Dae-sik and Na Kyung-won; Park Hyung-joon, Mayor of Busan; and Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, visited the funeral hall to pay their respects.

Assemblyman Kim Dae-sik said, "The deceased had many things to do for Busan and Sasang District, so it is regrettable that he left so suddenly. I hope he lives peacefully by God's side in heaven."

The late former Assembly member Jang was a close aide known as a 'Yoon core figure,' having served as chief of staff to the president-elect after Yoon Seok-yeol won the 2022 presidential election. Due to demands for reform from the pro-Yoon faction, he did not run in the last general election.

However, in November 2015, allegations recently surfaced that Jang sexually assaulted his secretary A while he was vice president of a university in Busan. While under police investigation for sexual assault charges, he was found dead on the evening of the 31st of last month in an officetel in Gangdong-gu, Seoul.