South Korea Holds Five-Day Government‑Honored Funeral for Former Prime Minister Lee Hae‑chan
Updated (7 articles)
Lee Hae‑chan Dies in Vietnam and Is Repatriated The former premier suffered cardiac arrest at a Ho Chi Minh City hospital on Sunday and was pronounced dead while serving as executive vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. A Korean Air charter flew his flag‑draped casket, family members and Democratic Party lawmakers from Vietnam to Incheon International Airport early Tuesday, where honor guards received the remains before transport to Seoul National University Hospital’s funeral home [1][4][6][7]. The repatriation was coordinated with Vietnamese authorities, who expedited paperwork and provided the necessary death and embalming certificates [7].
Five‑Day Funeral Combines Social and Institutional Rites A funeral committee chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok organized a five‑day mourning period from Tuesday through Saturday, merging a “social funeral” that invites public participation with an “institutional funeral” that follows formal state protocols [1][3][6][7]. The family requested that the ceremony not be designated a state funeral, so officials will render honors without the full trappings of a state funeral [1][3]. The schedule exceeds South Korea’s typical three‑day mourning period, underscoring Lee’s prominence in recent political history [6].
Top Officials Attend Memorial and Render Government Honors President Lee Jae‑Myung, Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, Assembly Speaker Woo Won‑shik, former President Moon Jae‑in, opposition leader Jang Dong‑hyeok and other senior figures gathered at the funeral home, offering wreaths, burning incense and delivering condolences [1][2][3][4]. Honor guards escorted the casket from Incheon Airport to a hearse and then to the funeral home, where a brief memorial service was held before the five‑day ceremonies began [1][3][4]. Government honors will be observed throughout the period, reflecting Lee’s long public service while respecting the family’s wishes [1][3].
Lee’s Democratic Legacy Highlighted by Leaders and Media Lee served as prime minister from 2004‑2006 under President Roh Moo‑hyun, completed seven terms as a lawmaker, and earned the nickname “kingmaker” for advising Presidents Kim Dae‑jun, Roh Moo‑hyun, Moon Jae‑in and current President Lee Jae‑Myung [1][3][4][5]. His early activism in pro‑democracy student movements against military rule shaped his lifelong commitment to democratic reforms [4][5]. At the time of his death he was senior vice‑president of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a role that linked him to inter‑Korean policy initiatives [1][2][5][6].
Sources (7 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap: South Korea Mourns Former Prime Minister Lee Hae‑chan After Vietnam Death – Details Lee’s death, repatriation flight, five‑day funeral with government honors, and the family’s wish to avoid a state funeral .
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[2]
Yonhap: President Lee Jae Myung to Visit Late Prime Minister Lee Hae‑chan’s Funeral Home – Announces President’s attendance, funeral committee composition, and highlights Lee’s democratic legacy .
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[3]
Yonhap: Lee Hae‑chan’s Death Prompts Five‑Day Government‑Honored Funeral in Seoul – Confirms repatriation, funeral schedule, committee leadership, and Lee’s “kingmaker” reputation .
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[4]
Yonhap: Lee Hae‑chan’s Body Returns from Vietnam Ahead of Five‑Day Funeral – Reports arrival of remains, airport ceremony, combined funeral format, and political résumé .
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[5]
Yonhap: Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae‑chan’s Body Returns From Vietnam Ahead of Five‑Day Funeral – Emphasizes repatriation logistics, senior PUAC role, and hybrid funeral approach .
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[6]
Yonhap: Former Prime Minister Lee Hae‑chan’s Five‑Day Funeral Set for This Week – Outlines funeral dates, repatriation details, and committee members .
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[7]
Yonhap: Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae‑chan’s Five‑Day Funeral Arranged After Death in Vietnam – Provides timeline of death, flight schedule, Vietnamese assistance, and expected arrival .
Timeline
2004‑2006 – Lee Hae‑chan serves as Prime Minister under President Roh Moo‑hyun, establishing his reputation as a senior liberal statesman and later earning the nickname “kingmaker” for advising multiple presidents. [1]
Nov 13, 2024 – Lee appears beside then‑Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung at the launch of the party’s foreign affairs and unification advisory body, illustrating his long‑standing influence on inter‑Korean policy. [2]
Oct 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung appoints Lee Hae‑chan as executive vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, positioning him to shape North‑Korea relations. [1]
Jan 24, 2026 (Sunday) – While on an official visit to Vietnam, Lee suffers cardiac arrest at a Ho Chi Minh City hospital and is pronounced dead, ending a seven‑term legislative career and his service as senior vice‑president of the PUAC. [1][3][4][5][6][7]
Jan 25, 2026 (Monday) – Lee’s flag‑draped casket is placed in a Korean Air charter that departs Tan Son Nhat Airport at 11:50 p.m., after Vietnamese authorities expedite death and embalming certificates. [7]
Jan 27, 2026 (Tuesday) – The casket lands at Incheon International Airport, receives a brief honor‑guard ceremony, and is transferred to Seoul National University Hospital’s funeral home, where a memorial altar with his portrait is installed; Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, chair of the funeral committee, and other senior officials receive the remains. [1][4][5][6]
Jan 27, 2026 (Tuesday) – President Lee Jae Myung announces he will attend the funeral home after completing his official duties and later pays tribute, saying Lee “dedicated his life to democracy” and calling him “a living witness to South Korea’s democracy.” [2]
Jan 27, 2026 (Tuesday) – Assembly Speaker Woo Won‑shik declares Lee “a great teacher of our time,” emphasizing his role as a “living witness to South Korea’s democracy” and his mentorship of progressive leaders. [1]
Jan 27 – 31, 2026 (Tuesday‑Saturday) – A five‑day funeral blends a “social funeral” honoring Lee’s societal contributions with an “institutional funeral” organized by the PUAC; government honors are rendered, wreaths are presented by President Lee, Speaker Woo, former President Moon Jae‑in, and opposition leader Jang Dong‑hyeok, and the ceremony exceeds the typical three‑day mourning period. [1][2][3][6][7]
Jan 27, 2026 (Tuesday) – The funeral committee, led by Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok and including emeritus professor Paik Nak‑chung and Democratic Party chairman Jung Chung‑rai, oversees the five‑day rites, reflecting Lee’s public‑service legacy. [6][7]