Handonghun Pays Condolences at the Late Son Myeongsun's Funeral "YS's Eternal Companion"

Representative Jo Guk: "YS Was One of My Heroes"
Former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and Former Lawmaker Jung Byung-guk Also Pay Condolences

Mrs. Son Myung-soon, the wife of the late former President Kim Young-sam, who had been hospitalized and receiving treatment at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul since last December, passed away from an illness yesterday at 5:39 PM. Key politicians are visiting the funeral hall one after another. Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, expressed his condolences, referring to Mrs. Son as an "eternal companion."

Handonghoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, along with the party leadership, visited the funeral hall of Son Myeongsun, wife of former President Kim Young-sam, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 8th to offer condolences. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Chairman Han wrote in the condolence book, "I pray for the eternal peace of Mrs. Son, the eternal companion of President Kim Young-sam, a great pillar of democracy in the Republic of Korea." After a moment of silence, Chairman Han greeted the bereaved family members, including Kim Hyun-chul, Chairman of the Kim Young-sam Presidential Memorial Foundation, Kim Seong-min, the eldest grandson of the late president, and Kim In-gyu, a People Power Party prospective candidate for Busan Seo and Dong districts and grandson of the late president. The People Power Party leadership held a private meeting with Chairman Kim inside the space arranged in the funeral hall.

After paying respects, Chairman Han told reporters, "President Kim, who was a great pillar of democracy, was supported by Mrs. Son as an eternal companion, standing by his side and fighting alongside him. I think she was an extraordinary person." He added, "I heard she was very strong, kind, and meticulous."

About 30 minutes after Chairman Han left, Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party, visited the funeral hall. Leader Cho also exchanged greetings with Chairman Kim and the prospective candidate Kim. He said, "When I was young, former President Kim was one of my heroes. He and former President Kim Dae-jung of Honam, who led the anti-dictatorship democratization movement, formed two pillars." He continued, "I previously visited the National Cemetery to pay tribute to President Kim, and upon hearing of Mrs. Son’s passing, I wanted to personally offer my condolences." Besides Chairman Han and Leader Cho, former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and former lawmaker Jung Byung-guk also visited the funeral hall to pay their respects.

Mrs. Son married former President Kim Young-sam in 1951 while she was a junior at Ewha Womans University. They shared 65 years of marriage until President Kim’s passing in 2015. Mrs. Son is regarded as a spouse who provided "quiet support" as the wife of President Kim.

The funeral for Mrs. Son will be held as a family ceremony for five days, hosted by the Kim Young-sam Presidential Memorial Foundation. The funeral procession is scheduled for 8 AM on the 11th. Mrs. Son is expected to be buried together with former President Kim at his gravesite in the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery.

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