Pro-Democracy Icon Lee Hae-chan to Be Laid to Rest in Five-Day Social Funeral

The late Lee Hae-chan, Vice Chair of the National Unification Advisory Council and widely regarded as a towering figure in South Korea’s pro-democracy movement, will be honored with a five-day social funeral, according to political sources.

The funeral is scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Saturday, the 27th through the 31st, under the format of a social funeral. This type of ceremony is held for individuals who have made significant contributions to national and social development and is organized by political parties or civic groups rather than the state.

Similar social funerals were previously held for Kim Geun-tae, former standing advisor of the Democratic United Party, in 2011, and Lee Hee-ho, former First Lady, in 2019. Unlike state funerals, social funerals are led by political parties, civil society organizations, and labor groups. In Lee’s case, the Democratic Party and various civic organizations are expected to jointly oversee the proceedings.

Lee, who served as Prime Minister under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, passed away at the age of 73 while receiving medical treatment in Vietnam.

Born in 1952, Lee began his political journey as a democracy activist in 1973, opposing the Yushin authoritarian regime of then-President Park Chung-hee. He went on to serve as Minister of Education under the Kim Dae-jung administration and later as Prime Minister. A seven-term lawmaker, Lee left an indelible mark on South Korean politics. In 2018, he assumed leadership of the Democratic Party and played a pivotal role in leading the party to a landslide victory in the 21st general election.

During the most recent presidential election, Lee served as a senior advisor to President Lee Jae-myung’s campaign, earning recognition as one of the president’s key political mentors. Upon receiving news of Lee’s critical condition, President Lee dispatched his senior political secretary, Cho Jung-sik, to Vietnam.

Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae expressed condolences, stating, “I pray for the eternal rest of Advisor Lee Hae-chan, who devoted his life to the advancement of democracy in South Korea.” The People Power Party also issued a statement offering its deepest sympathies over the sudden loss. Many in political circles have remembered Lee as “a great star in the history of Korean politics.”