Condolences from All Walks of Life on the Passing of Martyr Lee Han-yeol's Mother Bae Eun-sim (Comprehensive)

On the 31st anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising, at a commemorative ceremony held under the theme "From Democracy to Peace" in the multipurpose hall of Seoul City Hall on the 10th, Bae Eun-sim, the mother of the late martyr Lee Han-yeol, is wiping away tears. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] As Bae Eun-sim, the late martyr Lee Han-yeol's mother and a devoted democratization activist for 35 years, passed away on the 9th, a wave of condolences has continued from all walks of life.

Bae Eun-sim passed away at 5:28 a.m. at Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju at the age of 82. She had collapsed from a myocardial infarction on the 3rd, underwent treatment at the hospital, and was discharged on the 7th to return home to her residence in Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju.

Among her five children, including Lee Han-yeol, three daughters took turns caring for their mother. She appeared to have recovered her health, engaging in conversations with those around her without difficulty, but she collapsed again in the early hours of that day. Her daughter found her collapsed and took her to the hospital, but she ultimately passed away.

The bereaved family decided not to conduct an autopsy, as the death appeared to be due to illness, and to hold the funeral in Gwangju. The Lee Han-yeol Memorial Association, Gwangju-Jeonnam Memorial Solidarity, and the National Democratic Bereaved Families Association formed a funeral committee and decided to hold a "Social Funeral for Mother Bae Eun-sim, the Path of Democracy."

Woo Sang-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who fought alongside martyr Lee Han-yeol and held the portrait at Lee’s funeral, took charge of the funeral rites for Bae Eun-sim.

A memorial altar will also be set up on the 3rd floor of the Lee Han-yeol Memorial Hall in Seoul and at the Han-yeol Hill at Yonsei University.

President Moon Jae-in visited the funeral hall set up at Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju that afternoon to pay respects and console the bereaved family. President Moon said, "The sacrifice and dedication of Bae Eun-sim, who carried on the unfinished dreams of her son, martyr Lee Han-yeol, a symbol of the June Democratic Uprising, created today’s democracy in the Republic of Korea," and added, "I pray for the deceased’s peace and rest."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook, "I pray for the eternal rest of Bae Eun-sim, the mother of June and democracy," and pledged, "I will engrave her will in my heart and surely uphold the values of democracy and human rights."

Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, also stated on Facebook, "We will carry on the will of martyr Lee Han-yeol and Bae Eun-sim, who wished that no family would ever again suffer or sacrifice their lives for democracy."

Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party presidential candidate, said on Facebook, "Mother Bae transformed her love for her children into a greater love for all future generations of the Republic of Korea," and added, "I will live deeply remembering and cherishing her will."

Kim Dong-yeon, the New Wave presidential candidate, also released a statement that day, saying, "Bae Eun-sim, an ordinary housewife, devoted her remaining life to the democratization movement after her son’s death," and expressed condolences, "I pray that she now rests peacefully with the son she longed for all her life."

Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil and former leader Lee Nak-yeon also prayed for the repose of "the mother of the era," Bae Eun-sim, and Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop issued a memorial statement.

From the political sphere to social and cultural circles, many mourned Bae Eun-sim’s final journey.

The Gwangju Progressive Solidarity released a memorial statement saying, "The deceased was not only the mother of martyr Lee Han-yeol but also the ‘Mother of the Streets.’ Wherever democratization protests and rallies were held, she never hesitated to be there, and she stood at the forefront wherever there was pain in our society."

Kim Kyung-chan, the writer of the film '1987' featuring martyr Lee Han-yeol as the protagonist, and actor Kang Dong-won, who played Lee Han-yeol, visited the funeral hall that day. Director Jang Joon-hwan and actress Kim Tae-ri are also reportedly coordinating their schedules to pay respects.

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