General Baek Sun-yeop Passes Away Today

On the 12th, citizens paying their respects at the public condolence altar for the late General Baek Seon-yeop set up at Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The funeral and burial ceremonies for the late General Baek Seon-yeop (Retired Army General) were held on the 15th.

Army Chief of Staff Seo Wook presided over the funeral at Seoul Asan Medical Center at 7:30 a.m., followed by the burial ceremony at the Generals' Section 2 of the National Daejeon National Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. At the encoffining ceremony held the day before at Seoul Asan Medical Center, General Baek wore a burial garment similar to the combat uniform he wore during the Korean War. It is known that the bereaved family purchased a 1944 U.S. military combat uniform directly from an antique market.

The funeral was attended by family members, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Robert Abrams, U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, former Chiefs of Staff, and others. The leadership of the United Future Party, including Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae, and Secretary-General Kim Seon-dong, also attended the funeral in large numbers. On the other hand, the Democratic Party leadership did not attend due to budget policy meetings in Incheon and Gangwon regions, but members of the Democratic Party's Defense Committee attended instead.

Commander Abrams and retired Major General Song Young-geun, former commander of the 1st Division, delivered eulogies at the funeral. Commander Abrams said in his eulogy, "I am deeply honored and humbled to deliver a eulogy for such a great figure," adding, "General Baek was a patriot, a soldier's soldier, and one of the founders of the ironclad ROK-U.S. alliance." Outside the funeral hall, gathered citizens held signs reading "General Baek Seon-yeop is a Korean War hero" and "Rest in peace, General Baek Seon-yeop."

After the funeral, the hearse departed from Asan Medical Center and proceeded directly to Daejeon National Cemetery without stopping elsewhere. The burial ceremony was attended by the bereaved family, Ambassador Harris, the Seongwoohoe chairman and advisory group, former Chiefs of Staff, the ROK-U.S. Alliance Foundation, and the Army Association. At the burial, four veterans of the Battle of Dabudong in Gyeongbuk and four army soldiers sprinkled soil on General Baek's grave. Soil from eight Korean War battlefields, including Dabudong, which General Baek considered meaningful during his lifetime, was scattered.

Following the U.S. White House National Security Council (NSC), the U.S. Department of State also issued a statement expressing condolences on the passing of General Baek Seon-yeop (Retired Army General). On the 14th (local time), the State Department, through spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, stated, "As Korea's first four-star general, his service to the homeland during the Korean War symbolized the fight for the values of freedom and democracy that both Korea and the U.S. uphold today."

The Liberation Association, a group of descendants of independence activists, sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump demanding the recall of Commander Abrams, who praised General Baek as a "hero." The letter stated, "Recently, Commander Abrams has interfered in sensitive domestic political and social debates in Korea, provoking the anger of the Korean people," and accused him of exhibiting "fatal behavior" detrimental to ROK-U.S. friendship.

Meanwhile, the Institute for Korean Historical Issues' injunction request to prohibit General Baek's burial at the National Daejeon National Cemetery was rejected on the 15th. Due to the court's dismissal, the burial ceremony proceeded as scheduled that morning.

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