Yoon Seok-yeol Visits Choi Jae-hyung's Father's Funeral... Continuous Condolence Line from Opposition Party

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is leaving after paying his respects at the funeral hall of retired Colonel Choi Young-seop, father of former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, set up at the Sinchon Severance Hospital funeral hall in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 8th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol visited former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, who lost his father on the 8th, to offer condolences. As Choi is considered a leading opposition presidential candidate, a procession of condolences from opposition figures including the People Power Party continued.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon visited the funeral hall at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, around 4 p.m. that day and said, "Regardless of whether he was involved in politics or not, (former Chairman Choi) was a respected head of the Board of Audit and Inspection," adding, "The deceased elder was someone respected by all citizens who defended the country during the Korean War, so it was naturally a place to come."

Former Chairman Choi’s father, retired Colonel Choi Young-seop (Naval Academy Class 3), who passed away early that morning, participated in major battles of the Korean War such as the Battle of the Korea Strait and the Incheon Landing Operation, and received six medals including three for military merit.

This was the first time that former Prosecutor General Yoon and former Chairman Choi met as "politicians." Yoon declared his political participation on the 29th of last month, and former Chairman Choi also expressed his intention to enter politics the day before. Both held key positions during the Moon Jae-in administration but emerged as leading opposition presidential candidates after investigating allegations of misconduct within the administration and opposing the government.

Although attention was focused on their meeting, former Prosecutor General Yoon explained, "I only exchanged greetings with former Chairman Choi and had ordinary conversations with those who came to offer condolences." When asked by reporters if their political consensus had grown, Yoon replied, "That seems like an over-speculation," adding, "There was nothing like that." Former Chairman Choi also only said, "I thanked him (Yoon) for coming to offer condolences."

Earlier, former Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon, classified as a presidential hopeful, also visited the funeral hall to offer condolences to former Chairman Choi. Former Deputy Prime Minister Kim said, "When I was Deputy Prime Minister, (former Chairman Choi) was at the Board of Audit and Inspection, so I came to offer condolences," adding, "We shared stories reminiscing about the deceased elder, prayed for his repose, and I comforted former Chairman Choi and his family. That was all."

A procession of People Power Party lawmakers offering condolences continues. Kwon Young-se, who serves as the Chair of the External Cooperation Committee, was the first to visit the funeral hall. In addition, lawmakers Kwon Seong-dong, Yoon Han-hong, Jeong Hee-yong, Kim Yong-pan, Jeong Jin-seok, Yoo Sang-bum, and Song Seok-jun also visited the mourning site. Party leader Lee Jun-seok and floor leader Kim Ki-hyun also plan to meet former Chairman Choi in person that evening to offer condolences.

Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in also sent a condolence wreath to express sympathy for former Chairman Choi’s bereavement. Around 1:40 p.m. that day, a wreath in the name of the president arrived at the funeral hall of Sinchon Severance Hospital.

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