![Pallbearers carry the casket of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan out of the funeral hall at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul on Jan. 31. [Photo=Yonhap]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/01/31/20260131110725476042.jpg)
SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - A funeral service for former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was held on Saturday morning at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul, drawing senior political figures from across the political spectrum.
President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the service alongside National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Lee’s family.
Leaders and lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party as well as opposition parties were also present to pay their respects.
During the service, presidential political affairs secretary Cho Jung-sik, who served as chief executive of the funeral committee, read Lee’s biography, describing him as a lifelong public servant who carried out his duties with sincerity and responsibility.
Prime Minister Kim delivered a eulogy, saying South Korea’s democracy “owes a debt” to Lee for his role in defending democratic values despite imprisonment and political persecution.
Speaker Woo recalled Lee’s commitment to democracy during their time in prison in the early 1980s, quoting Lee as saying that “you can imprison the body, but you cannot imprison democracy.”
Tributes were also delivered by Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae, Seoul National University professor emeritus Baek Nak-chung and former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook.
The ceremony concluded with a memorial video and a flower offering.
Earlier in the day, a departure ceremony was held at Seoul National University Hospital’s funeral hall, followed by separate rites at the Democratic Party headquarters and the National Unification Advisory Council office.
Lee will be cremated at the Seoul Memorial Park and laid to rest at the Milky Way Park in Sejong City.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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