Minister Kang Kyung-hwa's father-in-law, Professor Lee Gi-eul, passes away... Funeral held as a family ceremony

Minister Kang's Husband Went to the U.S. on the 3rd; Professor Il-Byung Lee Could Not Attend the Funeral

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Lee Gi-eul, honorary professor at Yonsei University Business School and father-in-law of Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, passed away on the 13th at the age of 97. The funeral was held as a family ceremony according to the wishes of the bereaved family, and the body was sent off on the 15th. It is known that Minister Kang paid her respects on the 14th.

The deceased's son, Lee Il-byeong, honorary professor at Yonsei University and husband of Minister Kang, reportedly could not attend the funeral. Professor Lee had left for the United States on the 3rd for independent travel. Regarding this, Minister Kang responded at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s audit on the 7th, "Since this is a personal matter, it is difficult to speak about it, and even if I tried to stop it, he is not someone who would be stopped."

The late Professor Lee was born in Bukcheong, Hamgyeongnam-do, and during the late Japanese colonial period, he was involved in the "Five-member Reading Club of Jungang High School" incident, was discovered by Japanese police, and imprisoned at Hamheung Prison. This incident involved five fourth-year students of Jungang High School, including Professor Lee, who formed an organization led by the late Choi Bok-hyun to promote national spirit and achieve independence.

After entering the Commercial Department of Yonhee College, the predecessor of Yonsei University, in 1943, the deceased volunteered for the Japanese military conscription and witnessed liberation. He graduated from Yonhee College in 1947 and Yonsei University College of Commerce in 1952, and served as a professor at Yonsei University from 1955 to 1989. In June, he applied to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for recognition as an anti-Japanese independence activist and was awaiting the results.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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