"Cheer Up, Madam" Memorial for the Late Park Won-soon, with Criticism of Secondary Harm

On the 8th Memorial Ceremony, Kang Nan-hee Shed Tears Embracing Citizens
Supporters Calmly Participate Saying "Stop Criticizing the Deceased"
Some Citizens Criticize, "Don't You Think of the Victims?", "It's the COVID-19 Era"

On the 9th, at the Daeungjeon Hall of Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the first anniversary memorial service for the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, was held, his wife Kang Nan-hee is being comforted by a citizen after the memorial service. Photo by Kang Joo-hee kjh818@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] "Madam, stay strong," "Don't you consider the victim's position?"

The first anniversary memorial service for the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, was held on the 9th at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The memorial ceremony took place in the Daeungjeon Hall with only the bereaved family and monks present for about an hour. Citizens and officials who visited the memorial gathered in the front yard of Daeungjeon Hall to observe. Originally, the family planned to hold the memorial with citizen participation, but due to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, the event was scaled down to a family-centered ceremony.

The memorial proceeded mostly calmly, but there were some scuffles among citizens. When a YouTuber was filming and live streaming the memorial, a man who appeared to be a supporter of the late mayor Park tried to stop the filming, leading to a minor dispute. One devotee raised his voice, saying, "It's fine to hold a memorial, but why are the devotees not allowed to enter?"

Regarding the memorial, the reactions of citizens interviewed by Asia Economy on the day were mixed. While some felt that further criticism of the deceased was excessive, others pointed out that it constituted 'secondary harm' to the sexual assault victim.

Citizen Hwang (60) said, "He has already passed away, so what more is there to criticize?" and added, "Even if there were mistakes, given the situation, further criticism doesn't seem right. Holding a memorial is the right thing to do. I hope he has gone to a better place."

On the 9th, the first anniversary memorial service for the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, was held in the front yard of the Daeungjeon Hall at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Citizens are seated to pay their respects. / Photo by Kang Joo-hee kjh818@asiae.co.kr

Baek, who identified himself as a relative of the late mayor Park, expressed his longing for the deceased, saying, "The phrase 'eongeo dodan (言語道斷)' seems appropriate. The void left is too great to be expressed in words."

After the memorial, Park's wife, Kang Nan-hee, shook hands with citizens who were waiting for her and expressed her gratitude one by one. Kang appeared emotional, even tearing up as she hugged a supporter. When Kang was about to leave after finishing greetings, supporters raised their voices to cheer, saying, "Madam, stay strong!" and "Stay healthy!"

On the other hand, some citizens viewed the memorial critically. Park (65) said, "Memorials are a good thing, but if former mayor Park really committed such acts, naturally the victims would feel bad," adding, "Not much time has passed since the incident. Wouldn't it be enough to remember him in our hearts?"

There were also concerns that the memorial disrupted quarantine measures amid the severe spread of COVID-19. Citizen Lee (46) said, "I can't say anything about supporting him, but holding such a memorial during the COVID era itself doesn't make sense," and pointed out, "Even if it was held modestly, didn't so many people gather like this?"

Previously, after the death of former mayor Park, there was fierce criticism among citizens that the incense altar set up in front of City Hall and the 49th-day memorial event constituted secondary harm to the victim. The funeral of former mayor Park was held in July last year as a 'five-day funeral for the Seoul Special Mayor,' with over 10,000 citizens visiting the funeral hall. The 49th-day memorial, held on August 26 of the same year at Jogyesa Temple like this memorial, was attended by about 300 citizens and officials.

On the 9th, the first anniversary memorial service for the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, was held in front of the Daeungjeon Hall at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where citizens gathered to pay their respects. / Photo by Kang Joo-hee kjh818@asiae.co.kr

Civil organizations criticized that even one year after the sexual assault incident, the victim's return to daily life remains sluggish.

The 'Joint Action on the Seoul Mayor's Power Sexual Violence Case,' composed of 289 women's and civic groups, issued a statement on the 8th, stating, "The victim had to endure heinous secondary harm such as attempts to distort and conceal the case under the name of 'memorial,' a media company's new employee recruitment essay exam asking whether the victim was a 'victim' or a 'complainant,' and the leakage and distribution of the victim's personal information," and pointed out, "The victim's 'return to daily life' is far off."

They continued, "The victim did not give up and took a step forward toward a society where the rights of women and the vulnerable are guaranteed and where there is empathy for the pain of the weak," and urged, "We hope that the government, National Assembly, investigative agencies, judiciary, political circles, media, corporations, schools, and everyone who desires a just society will join this step."

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