Former Prime Minister Lee Haechan Laid to Rest

Funeral Ceremony Held at the National Assembly;
Laid to Rest at Eunhasu Park in Sejong City
President Lee, with a Somber Expression, Lays Flowers with First Lady Kim Hye-kyung
Tears Shed Multiple Times During Eulogies, Tributes, and Memorial Vide

"Learn values from history, and seek methods in reality."

The civic funeral for the late former Prime Minister Lee Haechan, who left behind this teaching, was solemnly held on the morning of January 31 at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. After the funeral, he was cremated at Seoul Memorial Park in Seocho-dong and laid to rest at Eunhasu Park in Sejong City, where he entered eternal rest.

President Lee Jaemyung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the funeral, accompanying the late former Prime Minister on his final journey. Throughout the eulogies and tributes, both frequently wiped their eyes with handkerchiefs, and after laying flowers, they lingered in front of the portrait, unable to leave easily. Earlier, immediately after Lee Haechan's passing, President Lee visited the mourning altar at Seoul National University Hospital to pay his respects, comfort the bereaved family, and posthumously awarded the highest grade of the Order of Civil Merit, the Mugunghwa Medal, in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of democracy. The medal accompanied the portrait on his final journey during the funeral.

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The funeral procession began with the departure from Seoul National University Hospital's funeral hall at 6:30 a.m. on this day. The procession visited the office of the National Unification Advisory Council and the Democratic Party of Korea headquarters for a traditional farewell ritual before heading to the National Assembly. Despite it being the weekend, family members, political figures, and civil society leaders gathered at the National Assembly to bid farewell to the late former Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Kim Minseok began his eulogy with the words, "We are indebted." He said, "Both democracy and the Republic of Korea are indebted to the deceased," noting that Lee Haechan stood at the forefront during the birth of each of the four democratic governments, "shielding us from the arrows." His voice broke as he said, "There is still so much to ask and so many decisions to make, but now, whom can we turn to?" Prime Minister Kim recalled how Lee collapsed during an official trip to Vietnam as Executive Vice Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council, commemorating his life that burned with his final sense of duty until the very end.

During the eulogy, President Lee bowed his head and wiped away tears with a handkerchief, while First Lady Kim pressed her lips tightly together and also wiped her tears. Prime Minister Kim said, "President Lee and First Lady Kim, who visited the mourning altar, shed so many tears. I feel responsible for having him serve as Executive Vice Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council, which led him to pass away while on official duty in faraway Vietnam," he continued, "The greatest public servant in history and my role model, senior Lee Haechan, please now rest from your work and find peace in Sejong, which you personally designed. We will surely accomplish the unfinished tasks you left for peace on the Korean Peninsula."

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National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik said, "The name Lee Haechan is itself the history of Korean democracy." Reflecting on his life dedicated to 'putting the public before the private,' he said, "I deeply realized what a public servant's sense of duty and responsibility means." He also remarked that Lee's politics were "not based on ideology, but on the field."

Jung Chungrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, in his tribute, cited Lee's dedication as the reason for democracy's resilience even after the 12·3 Martial Law Incident. He said, "Every step of former Prime Minister Lee's life was devoted to the Republic of Korea," describing him as an "outstanding leader," "spiritual pillar of the Democratic Party," and "the party's top strategist." He was overcome with emotion when he said, "Lee Haechan was a giant who led Korea as a democratic republic," and added, "He was strict but warm-hearted," his voice trembling.

At the funeral, Seoul National University Professor Emeritus Paik Nakchung and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook also delivered tributes in honor of the late former Prime Minister.

'A Giant of Democracy' and 'Samu-sa' Lee Haechan... His Last Official Duty as Vice Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council

Jo Jungshik, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs and Executive Chairperson of the Funeral Committee, said in his biography report, "The late former Prime Minister's entire life was devoted to the completion of Korea's democratic system and the construction of a democratic national party," and called him "a giant of democracy who fulfilled his responsibilities with sincerity, diligence, and a sense of urgency."

His career paralleled the twists and turns of modern Korean history. In his twenties, he joined the student movement and was imprisoned in 1974 for his involvement in the Mincheonghakryeon Incident under the Yushin regime. After his release, he learned the publishing business by working as a translator at Jonggak Translation Office, founded by dismissed Dong-A Ilbo journalists. Before his marriage in 1978, he opened Gwangjang Bookstore at Sillim Intersection, and in 1979, he founded Dolbegae Publishing.

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In 1980, he was implicated in the 'Kim Daejung Rebellion Conspiracy Case' and received a heavy sentence. During the June Struggle in 1987, he served as the head of the situation room for the National Movement Headquarters for the Achievement of a Democratic Constitution, and that same year, he entered mainstream politics by joining the Peace Democratic Party. In the 1988 13th general election, he was elected to the National Assembly for Gwanak-eul, Seoul, defeating prominent candidates, and was known as one of the 'three musketeers of the Labor Committee,' praised for bringing the language of the field into politics. Around this time, writer Yoo Si-min joined as his aide.

He had deep ties with successive presidents. Under the Kim Daejung administration, he served as the first Minister of Education, giving rise to the term 'Lee Haechan Generation.' During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he was the 'responsible prime minister' at the center of state affairs. He had a particularly close relationship with former President Roh, as evidenced by the famous 'sharing cigarettes' anecdote, and together they pushed for the relocation of the administrative capital. His relationship with former President Moon Jae-in is best described as 'comrades.' Upon hearing of Lee's passing, Moon wrote a tribute, "As a longtime comrade and steadfast partner in state affairs, I will cherish the time we spent together," and, together with former First Lady Kim Jung-sook, visited the mourning altar at Seoul National University Hospital to lay flowers and comfort the bereaved family.

The '20-year rule theory' of the Democratic Party, which emerged during the Moon Jae-in administration, was a recurring theme for Lee Haechan since his tenure as party leader. At a party members' forum in November 2018, he said, "To establish welfare as a foundation, we need to govern not just for 20 years, but even longer," emphasizing the need for policies to take root for decades, as seen in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. He also warned, "Even if you govern for 10 years, it takes only three or four years to undo the achievements," stressing that the party must not lose power again.

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His relationship with President Lee Jaemyung also remained strong. The late former Prime Minister was regarded as a 'political mentor' who oversaw strategy and coordination for the Democratic Party of Korea across multiple democratic administrations, and President Lee openly referred to him as a mentor. His final official duty was a business trip to Vietnam as Executive Vice Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council under the Lee Jaemyung administration.

Because of his blunt speaking style, he earned nicknames such as 'Angry Haechan' and 'Scolding Prime Minister,' but his directness was often seen as another side of decisiveness and responsible politics. In political circles, he was called 'Pro-Roh leader,' 'strategist,' and 'kingmaker.' As the ruling party leader during the Moon Jae-in administration, he led the general election campaign and was recognized as a living witness to 'democratic government.' Among his many nicknames, he especially cherished 'Samu-sa,' meaning 'no evil thoughts,' reflecting his life of prioritizing public duty over personal desire.

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After the funeral, the hearse proceeded to Seoul Memorial Park. Following the cremation, it briefly stopped at his home in Jeondong-myeon, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, before the burial ceremony was held at Eunhasu Park at 3:30 p.m. It is said that his wish was honored by being buried in a 'flat grave' close to where his parents rest, rather than at a national cemetery.