'Funeral Without a Body After 2 Years'... Farewell Ceremony Held for West Sea Struck Public Official

The Funeral Ceremony of the Late Lee Dae-jun Held as a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries State Funeral at His Former Workplace in Mokpo
Memorial Service Without the Body... Moved to the Exclusive Pier of the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit for Tribute Ceremony

The funeral ceremony for the late Lee Dae-jun, a civil servant who was killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea, was held as a state funeral at a funeral hall in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] The funeral ceremony for the late Lee Dae-jun, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea, was solemnly held as a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries state funeral at a funeral hall in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, at 10 a.m. on the 22nd.

About 100 people attended the funeral, including the bereaved family, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries employees, colleagues from the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit, Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Lee Gwan-seop, Senior Secretary for National Policy Planning at the Presidential Office, and members of the People Power Party Ha Tae-kyung and Ahn Byung-gil.

The funeral proceeded in the order of saluting the national flag, a moment of silence for the deceased, a report on his career, a farewell address, a eulogy, and flower offering. The mourners reflected on the late official’s career, who served as a public servant in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ West Sea Fisheries Management Unit for 7 years and 9 months. The bereaved family and colleagues, unable to hide their sorrow, lamented the fact that this was a funeral without a body held after two years and bid farewell to the deceased’s final journey.

Minister Cho, who gave the farewell address as the funeral chairman, said, "It is truly heartbreaking for all members of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries family to finally send him to the high heavens after such a long time," and "I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved family who endured difficult times without even being able to hold a funeral."

Lee Rae-jin, the deceased’s older brother and representative of the bereaved family, said in his eulogy, "We experienced and suffered the tragedy of the previous government, which not only announced an investigation that was different from the facts at the beginning of the incident but also did nothing," adding, "This sad and painful history must never be repeated, and now, putting aside gratitude and apologies, let us send him peacefully on his eternal rest."

After the funeral ceremony, the funeral procession moved to the exclusive pier of the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit near the North Port of Mokpo to continue the memorial ritual. Leading the procession with a solemn spirit, they boarded the fishing guidance vessel Mugunghwa 10, on which the deceased last embarked, and marched along the engine room, wheelhouse, and deck. The crew of the Mugunghwa 10 mourned by sounding the ship’s horn, a sailor’s tribute to a lost comrade at sea.

A memorial ceremony for the late Lee Dae-jun, an official of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries who was killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea, was held on the afternoon of the 22nd at the exclusive pier of the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The deceased was killed by North Korean soldiers in September 2020 while drifting near Soyeonpyeongdo in the West Sea, and his body was burned. At that time, the Moon Jae-in administration announced that Lee was killed while 'voluntarily defecting to the North.' However, the bereaved family insisted that there was no reason for him to defect and requested the government to investigate the truth and disclose related information.

After the memorial ritual on this day, the bereaved family said, "We will even file charges against former President Moon Jae-in." They added, "Now that the funeral is over, we will make stronger statements than before."

Since its inauguration, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has overturned the previous announcements by the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard, stating that Lee’s defection to the North has not been proven. In July, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries canceled Lee’s dismissal ex officio and processed it as a 'dismissal due to death.' Last month, the 'Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries State Funeral Candidate Selection Committee' decided to hold Lee’s funeral as a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries state funeral. The prosecution is also investigating former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won and former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook, among others, in connection with the case.

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