Martyr Lee Han-yeol's Mother Bae Eun-sim Passes Away... Presidential Candidates Express Condolences, Vow to "Carry on Democracy"

Lee Jae-myung "We will uphold the values of democracy and human rights"
Yoon Seok-youl "We will repay with the restoration and development of democracy"
Ahn Cheol-soo "From Lee Han-yeol's mother to our mother"
Sim Sang-jung's side "We will protect the rights of the powerless"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As Bae Eun-sim, the mother of the late martyr Lee Han-yeol, passed away on the 9th, presidential candidates from both ruling and opposition parties expressed their condolences.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook, "I pray for the eternal rest of Mrs. Bae, the mother of June and democracy," and commemorated the deceased by saying, "Since Lee Han-yeol sacrificed himself in June 1987, his mother has devoted herself solely to the democracy of this country for 34 years."

He said, "Mrs. Bae traveled across the country for the National Federation of Families of Democratic Martyrs, even if it meant splitting sleeping pills on countless sleepless nights," and added, "Whenever the memorial service for Lee Han-yeol and the June Struggle commemorative ceremony came, she thanked each attendee personally." He pledged, "I will deeply and firmly engrave her will in my heart. I will definitely uphold the values of democracy and human rights."

Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, also left a message of condolence on Facebook. Yoon said, "I pray for the repose of the deceased and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the Lee Han-yeol Memorial Association," and added, "Mrs. Bae, the mother of Lee Han-yeol, who ignited the June Democratic Uprising, has devoted herself more than anyone else to democratization and human rights for the past 35 years, carrying on her son's will."

He said, "We will now carry on the will of Lee Han-yeol and Mrs. Bae, who wished that no family would ever again suffer or sacrifice their lives for democracy," and promised, "We will repay this through the restoration and development of democracy."

Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party presidential candidate, also said, "I sincerely pray for the repose of the deceased," and added, "She practiced 'greater motherly love' from being 'Lee Han-yeol’s mother' to 'our mother.'"

He said that whenever he visited Gwangju, he went to see Mrs. Bae, and recalled, "When I asked her, 'It must be hard, please take care of your health,' she replied, 'It is to live as a family member, as a mother.'" He also conveyed that Mrs. Bae did not hesitate to ask him to "make efforts so that our country can become a brighter nation."

Candidate Ahn also said, "I will live deeply remembering and cherishing her will," and added, "May she enjoy eternal peace and rest in heaven with her beloved son."

Shim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, through senior spokesperson Lee Dong-young of the election committee, said in a statement, "The Justice Party mourns the life of the deceased and will continue to protect the rights of the powerless and the underprivileged in our society, and continue the steps toward democracy and human rights," and "We pray for the eternal rest of Mrs. Bae, the 'Mother of June.'"

Meanwhile, according to civic groups in Gwangju on the same day, Mrs. Bae passed away in the morning at Chosun University Hospital.

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