"Declared a Family Funeral"... But Visits from Political and Business Figures Continue

Endless Condolence Line on Second Day at Funeral Hall
9 AM Won-Buddhism Style Encoffining Ceremony
Samsung Senior Executives Say "Deeply Mourn"
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun and Others Visit

On the 26th, at the entrance of the funeral hall of Seoul Samsung Hospital in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, reporters are covering mourners visiting the late Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Group's, funeral hall. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] "It is heartbreaking and sorrowful."

On the morning of the 26th, the second day since the funeral hall for Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee was set up, the funeral hall at Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was visited by current and former senior Samsung executives as well as political and business figures from early morning. Those from Samsung and the business community who had memories with the deceased could not hide their sorrowful expressions.

Kim Ki-nam, head of the Device Solutions (DS) division, who visited the funeral hall that morning, expressed his feelings to reporters, saying, "It is heartbreaking." Kim currently serves as Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, overseeing the semiconductor division.

Following him, former KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu visited the funeral hall. Hwang said, "It pains my heart that an elder has passed away. We must do well." Hwang, who is from Samsung Electronics, is a figure who greatly advanced Samsung's semiconductor technology.

Former Vice President (President) Jang Choong-ki of the Future Strategy Office also came to the funeral hall. With a somber expression, Jang did not respond to reporters' questions and headed to the funeral hall located on the second basement floor. He had worked in Samsung Group’s Secretariat, Restructuring Headquarters, and Future Strategy Office.

Visits from business chairmen continued as well. At around 10:13 a.m., Chung Ji-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Department Store Group, visited the funeral hall and said, "I offered my condolences to the bereaved family." Following him, Park Yong-man, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also visited the funeral hall.

Earlier that morning, from 9 a.m., Chairman Lee’s encoffining ceremony was held. The ceremony was conducted in the Won-Buddhism style with family members including his wife Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Leeum Museum of Art, children Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, Lee Boo-jin, President of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, Chairwoman of Samsung Welfare Foundation, in attendance. From 8:55 a.m., a bell signaling the start of the encoffining ceremony rang outside.

At the first-floor entrance of the funeral hall, Samsung officials guided mourners to check QR codes and measure their temperatures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Samsung had announced the day before that, according to the wishes of the deceased and the family, the funeral would be held quietly as a family funeral, but it is expected that political and business figures will continue to visit.

That morning, CEOs of major Samsung affiliates such as Samsung Electronics, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung SDI, Samsung Display, and Samsung C&T paid their respects to Chairman Lee’s final journey. In the afternoon, it is expected that the heads of the so-called "Big 4 Groups," including Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, and Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group, as well as economic organizations such as Huh Chang-soo, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, will also visit.

The day before, CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun was the first to visit the funeral hall, accompanied by his wife Kim Hee-jae, Lee Kyung-hoo, Executive Director of CJ ENM, and Lee Sun-ho, Manager of CJ CheilJedang, along with their spouses. Chairman Lee said, "It is shocking that my proud uncle has passed away early," and added, "He was a great man who left significant achievements for the national economy, loved his family deeply, and led a large family well. To me, he was a proud uncle."

No Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President, and Lee Ho-seung, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Blue House, visited the funeral hall around 7:20 p.m. to console the bereaved family. When asked if he delivered a message from President Moon Jae-in, Chief of Staff No said, "I conveyed the President’s words to the family," but did not specify the content of the message.

At the funeral hall, wreaths from political and business circles offering condolences for Chairman Lee’s final journey continued to arrive. From the business community, wreaths were sent by Choi Jeong-woo, Chairman of POSCO; Cheon Shin-il, Chairman of Sejung; Seo Jung-jin, Chairman of Celltrion; Park Jung-won, Chairman of Doosan; Cho Hyun-joon, Chairman of Hyosung Group; Jung Mong-jin, CEO and Chairman of KCC; and Kim Seung-yeon, Chairman of Hanwha. From the political sphere, wreaths were sent by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo, followed by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, Lee Nak-yon, Leader of the Democratic Party, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, and Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party.

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