President Lee and First Lady Pay Respects at Former Prime Minister Lee Haechan's Memorial... Posthumously Award Order of Civil Merit, Mugunghwa Medal

Personally Delivered the Mugunghwa Medal
President Lee and First Lady Moved to Tears During Condolence Visit, Offering Comfort to the Bereaved Family

President Lee Jaemyung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited the mourning altar of former Prime Minister Lee Haechan to pay their respects and posthumously awarded him the Order of Civil Merit, Mugunghwa Medal.

Yonhap News

On the afternoon of January 27, President Lee and the First Lady arrived at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the memorial altar for the former Prime Minister was set up. President Lee, with a sorrowful expression, bowed deeply before the portrait of the late Prime Minister, then held both hands of his widow, Kim Jeong-ok, and offered words of consolation. Both President Lee and First Lady Kim were visibly moved to tears as they paid their respects.

President Lee posthumously awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Mugunghwa Medal, in honor of the former Prime Minister's achievements. The Order of Civil Merit, Mugunghwa Medal, is the highest grade of the Order of Civil Merit, awarded to individuals who have contributed to the improvement of public welfare and national development in the fields of politics, economy, society, education, and academia.

The funeral is being jointly organized by the National Unification Advisory Council and the Democratic Party. It will be held as an official and social funeral for five days, from January 27 to January 31, with visits permitted from noon on the first day. During the funeral period, Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae and other party leaders will remain at the altar, serving as chief mourners. Prime Minister Kim Minseok will serve as the chief funeral committee chair, while Baek Nakcheong, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University, and Representative Jeong will serve as joint standing funeral committee chairs representing civil society and political parties. As joint funeral committee chairs, they will invite leaders from each political party and prominent figures from various sectors of society.

The former Prime Minister collapsed from a myocardial infarction on January 23 while visiting Vietnam to attend the Asia-Pacific Regional Executive Committee of the National Unification Advisory Council. Although he received treatment at a local hospital, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away at 2:48 p.m. local time (4:48 p.m. Korean time) on January 25 at the age of 73. His remains were transported to Korea on the morning of January 27 via Korean Air flight KE476.