South Korea marks 49th-day memorial for ex-PM Lee Hae-chan ahead of local elections
The portrait of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was brought into the National Assembly Members’ Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, as part of his funeral rites reported by Yonhap.
A separate event marked Lee Hae-chan’s 49th-day memorial, held on February 14 at Won-Buddhist Han River Temple in Black Stone-dong, Seoul. The gathering drew attendees from politics, government, and civil society.
Among the attendees were Kim Hye-kyung, wife of President-elect Lee Jae-myung, and Kwon Yang-sook, the widow of former President Roh Moo-hyun. They were joined by Democratic Party leaders and lawmakers, including Chung Cheong-rae, Han Byung-do, and other party members such as Choo Mi-ae, Kim Young-jin, Lee Hae-sik, and Kim Young-bae.
Representatives from the government and the Blue House also attended, including Kim Seong-hwan, minister of climate, energy and environment, and Kwon Oh-yeul, minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Senior political secretary Hong Ik-pyo and political secretary Jeong Eul-ho were among the government aides present.
Kim Hye-kyung wore a black suit and stayed beside Kim Jeong-ok, the widow of the deceased, at the memorial service.
In his remarks, Chung Cheong-rae described Lee Hae-chan as a central figure in Korea’s democratic history, recalling his loyalty to the Democratic Party, his integrity in public service, and his persistent commitment to peaceful relations on the Korean Peninsula, up to his final moments. He pledged to carry forward Lee’s legacy and to prevail in the June 3 local elections.
Writer Yoo Si-min delivered the eulogy, reflecting on Lee’s life as one in which the nation and its people were treated as a family, and noting that Lee achieved notable outcomes in every public role. Yoo urged that Lee be remembered peacefully, including in conversations with past presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
For U.S. readers, the events signal how Korea’s political and ceremonial life intertwines with major domestic milestones. The 49th-day memorial and the attendance of both the president-elect’s spouse and current government figures highlight how Korea’s ruling party maintains influence across political and ceremonial spheres. The reference to the June local elections also points to forthcoming policy and governance priorities that could affect Korea’s economic and security posture, including how local leadership may shape responses to regional issues and alliance-related interests important to the United States.