"Merit Should Be Evaluated by Merit... Victims May Not Know the Facts" Visitors Flock to Park Won-soon's Funeral Hall

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's Funeral Day Two: Political, Business, Religious Circles and Foreign Envoys Pay Respects
"He was in contact until 2-3 days ago," atmosphere of shock
Some mourners remain silent, seemingly aware of public opinion... Kim Kyung-soo says "I have no knowledge of the facts"

On the 10th, the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was prepared as the mourning place for the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul. / Provided by Seoul City

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] On the second day of the funeral for Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, on the 11th, condolences continued from political and business figures at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the funeral was held. Due to the large crowd, mourners had to wait in line on the stairs from the basement level 1 to the 3rd floor to pay their respects at Mayor Park's funeral hall, and ribbons separated from flower wreaths were densely attached to the walls outside the funeral hall due to lack of space.

On the 10th, a condolence wreath from Park Byeong-seok, Speaker of the National Assembly, was brought into the funeral hall of the late Mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

◆"I was in contact just 2 or 3 days ago..."= Mourners expressed shock, saying they had been in contact or had plans to meet with Mayor Park just 2 or 3 days ago. Woo Won-shik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said after visiting the funeral hall around 2 p.m., "I was in contact until about 2 or 3 days before (his death). (Until then) there was nothing unusual."

Kim Jun-hyung, President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said after paying respects around 4 p.m., "I was very shocked," adding, "Because the last time I saw him, he was very enthusiastic and, as always, presided over meetings late into the night, so I just can't believe it."

Cho Eung-cheon, a Democratic Party member, said around 5:40 p.m., "I was supposed to meet him next week, so I really can't believe it," adding, "I was really surprised and saddened by the news."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆"We must distinguish between achievements and faults"= Some mourners remained silent, seemingly mindful of public opinion. Former Justice Party member Lee Jung-mi, when asked about her relationship with Mayor Park, said, "Today, I will only express my condolences." Justice Party members Jang Hye-young and Ryu Ho-jeong remained silent when asked if they would pay respects. Former National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang left after only saying to reporters, "It's devastating."

Park Yong-jin, a Democratic Party member who visited the funeral hall around 4 p.m., said when asked about his feelings, "I feel shocked," adding, "I came thinking about responsibility." He continued, "Achievements and faults should be treated separately, and I believe Seoul citizens will carry on the work he did."

Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, said as he left the funeral hall around 5:40 p.m., "I do not know who the victim mentioned in the media reports is. I have no knowledge of the facts." He added, "I believe the civic movements and achievements such as expanding local autonomy, which Mayor Park dedicated his life to, deserve full respect and remembrance."

Additionally, Kim Hyun-mi, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Park Nam-chun, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City; and Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, also visited the funeral hall.

◆"He was my defense lawyer... so sad"= Many mourners recalled their long-standing connections with Mayor Park. Former lawmaker Lee Jae-oh, who visited the funeral hall around 2 p.m., said, "When I was imprisoned, Mayor Park served as my defense lawyer. This is truly a tragic event."

Democratic Party member Lee Jong-gul, who visited at 4:30 p.m., said, "The Hope Institute will become a historic asset marking the milestone of civic movements in South Korea," adding, "I will personally work to uncover and return his written materials to the citizens."

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, said, "When I became the first Commissioner of the National Tax Service under the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2003, I worked with Park Won-soon, who was then the Executive Director of Beautiful Store, as co-chairman of the National Tax Reform Committee. This is very shocking and sad."

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education, said, "He was a long-time friend and respected comrade for 40 years," adding, "I mourned how to remember and carry on Park Won-soon as a civic activist before he became Mayor of Seoul."

Moon Jung-in, Special Advisor to the President on Unification, Foreign Affairs, and Security, said, "We were working hard on the joint bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Seoul and Pyongyang with Mayor Park, so this is very sad," adding, "He had so much to do but left too soon."

◆Religious and business figures also pay respects= Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, visited the funeral hall around 10 a.m. He said after paying respects, "It is truly sad that Mayor Park suddenly passed away," and "I comforted the bereaved family and prayed for the deceased." Around 3:30 p.m., Buddhist monk Beopryun visited the funeral hall and left without saying anything.

No So-young, Director of Art Center Nabi, and Chung Mong-joon, Chairman of the Asan Foundation, also visited the funeral hall. Following the previous day, diplomatic envoys also paid respects. Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to Korea, said, "Mayor Park left achievements for the development of China-Korea relations," adding, "We will not forget his achievements."

◆The funeral procession will be on the 13th... After a lap around Seoul City Hall, then to the crematorium= The funeral committee decided to hold a five-day funeral as previously announced. The funeral procession will be at 7:30 a.m. on the 13th, with a memorial service at Seoul City Hall at 8:30 a.m. Park Hong-geun, a Democratic Party member and co-chairman of the funeral committee, explained at a briefing that day, "At the memorial service at City Hall, the deceased will take a lap around the Seoul City Hall area where he served for nearly nine years to say farewell, then depart at 9:30 a.m. for cremation at Seoul Memorial Park." Since the funeral is held as that of the Mayor of Seoul, the funeral committee chairpersons will be jointly held by Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; Baek Nak-cheong, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University; and Seo Jeong-hyeop, First Deputy Mayor of Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.