Unification activist Paik Ki-wan dies▶ Click here for a larger view
On the morning of the 15th, when the news of his death was announced, Baek Ki-wan (aged 89), head of the Institute for Unification Studies, was visited by politicians, civil society officials, and other citizens.
On this day when the condolences were officially started, at 2 p.m., the ruling and opposition officials first visited the burial place at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
‘Senior Ki-wan Baek dies’… Park Young-seon finds a poor place▶ Click here for a larger view
Park Young-seon, a candidate for the Mayor of Seoul’s Mayor of the Democratic Party, who visited the depreciation shortly after the bereaved family began receiving the condolences, mentioned the relationship he made with Baek during his days as a reporter.
Along with Park Yong-jin and Do Jong-hwan, Democratic Party lawmakers also visited vacant places.
Rep. Park said, “When Ms. Paik ran for presidential election in 1992, I was remembered as an honor to act as an election campaigner. I thought he would always be with us with his fluttering hair, but it’s a bitter heart.”
Justice Party officials, including Bae Bok-ju, Vice Chairman of Justice Party, Jang Hye-young, Ryu Ho-jeong, Kang Eun-mi, and Seoul City Councilman Kwon Soo-jeong, also found vulgars.
Senior Advisor Lee Jae-oh also visited the funeral at 3:43 pm. This adviser first met Baek during the campaign against the Korea-Japan talks in 1964 and looked back on his past with democratic movements such as the Democratic Youth Council.
Open Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Jin-ae, Choi Kang-wook, and Kang Min-jeong also visited the vacant house.
Rep. Kang-wook Choi said, “Since you have gone ahead, I will not forget the will of the deceased as a living child.” Former Democratic Party lawmaker Won Hye-young said, “I believe that the efforts made by young teacher Ki-wan Baek for national reunification will continue to live and accelerate our unification.”
Gyeonggi Gyeonggi Governor Jae-myeong Lee, who completed the condolences of the late Gi-wan Baek▶ Click here for a larger view
In-tae Yoo, the former secretary general of the National Assembly, found a vacant place at 4:42 pm and left a short word, “You lived as an idealist,” and then Rep. Song Young-gil and former head of the Cultural Heritage Administration Yoo Hong-joon also quietly finished the condolence and left.
Rep. Nam In-soon and National Assembly Vice President Kim Sang-hee visited Binso together, and Vice Chairman Kim said, “I feel the passing of an era. The words and spirit of Paik Ki-wan remain in everyone’s heart.”
At 5:10 pm, former Barun Mirae Party CEO Sohn Hak-gyu visited the crypt and said, “We have to raise the spirit of righteousness and spirit of Paik Ki-wan while our country is in trouble.
Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myeong stood in front of the reporters at 5:37 pm and couldn’t speak for a while, and said, “I’ve always met someone on the road. I’ve always been in front of the desperate people of this age. I will work hard to follow the path that the teacher took.” said.
The late Paik Ki-wan, a monk Ji-seon who finds an empty place▶ Click here for a larger view
Civil society and religious people also visited the funeral home.
After condolences, Liberation Chairman Kim Won-woong said, “I’m an elderly man I’ve always thought about. I’ve been walking through the wilderness consistently throughout my life.”
Baek Nak-cheong, an emeritus professor at Seoul National University, said, “It’s really empty and regretful that a person like my eldest brother and the big adult of our people’s movement goes away.”
Mr. Aunt (55), who said he was an official of the Park Jong-cheol Memorial Project, said, “Mr. Paik was the first chairman,” and “Many people gave him the courage to fight in their standing position.”
Sunnim Ji-sun, chairman of the Democratic Movement Commemoration Association, expressed sadness, saying, “These younger students who have not been able to leave after seeing unification and being completely democratized are very sinful and sad.”
Kim Mi-sook, CEO of the Kim Yong-gyun Foundation, said in a locked voice, “I heard the news of obituary this morning, but I thought you would get up again.”
Kim Jong-ki, chairman of the 4.16 family council, mourned, “The teacher who served as a big support for our society went so much that I am grieving.”
Kim Yong-gyun’s mother, who finished paying for the late Paik Ki-wan▶ Click here for a larger view
There were also citizens who followed Director Baek and came to remembrance of their relationship with the people’s movement.
A 56-year-old office worker working near Seoul Station prayed over white chrysanthemums in his eyes, blushing.
Mr. A said, “I was a college student who helped the election when I ran for the presidential election in 1987,” and “I hope you’ll be honored because you took the initiative as an elder of the democratization movement and struggled until the end.”
Artist Gong Ji-young also said, “I remember going to my teacher’s house when I was in college and giving my first car as a car exclusively for the teacher’s presidential candidate.”
‘Senior Ki-wan Baek dies’… Condolences▶ Click here for a larger view
Harmony, wreaths, and Geunjogi were not noticeable in the funeral home.
The funeral committee said, “We do not receive harmony according to the teacher’s will. The teacher said that it would be good to help people in need with a price to send harmony.”
He said, “I received a call from the Blue House Civil Society Chief about sending harmony (in the name of President Moon Jae-in), but I refused.”
On this day, writer Gong Ji-yeong, Gyeonggi superintendent Lee Jae-jung, Gyeonggi-do superintendent Lee Nak-yeon, and Democratic Party representative Lee Nak-yeon, and Kim Ki-seok, president of Anglican University, sent harmony and wreaths, but the funeral committee returned all.
[연합뉴스]
Copyrights ⓒ Yonhap News. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited