(Seoul, January 31, 2026) — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung publicly mourned the loss of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan at a funeral ceremony held at the National Assembly on Thursday, visibly shedding tears as he remembered the late politician.
President Lee Jae-myung attended the funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, displaying visible emotion during the ceremony.
- President Lee Jae-myung attended the funeral ceremony for former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan at the National Assembly.
- The President was seen repeatedly wiping away tears during the ceremony and while viewing a commemorative video.
- Lee Hae-chan had served as a senior advisor to President Lee after the inauguration of his government.
President Lee arrived at the funeral hall with his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, both wearing black suits and mourning ribbons, according to reports. The couple watched with somber expressions as the portrait of the deceased was brought into the hall.
The President and First Lady sat with the bereaved family, offering comfort to Lee Hae-chan’s spouse, Kim Jeong-ok, by holding her hand. President Lee also appeared visibly moved as Prime Minister Kim Min-seok read a eulogy, and Kim Jeong-ok was seen wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.
A commemorative video shown during the ceremony included footage of President Lee praising Lee Hae-chan as “a great adult of our Democratic Party” during a campaign rally in Sejong City last May. The video also featured Lee Hae-chan wearing a campaign uniform with the slogan “Now Lee Jae-myung” and showed the two men walking together and attending events after President Lee’s inauguration. Following the video, President Lee was again seen wiping away tears.
After laying flowers before Lee Hae-chan’s portrait, President Lee and his wife joined the funeral procession, walking with the bereaved family while visibly emotional. He remained until the transport carrying the deceased departed, watching with a “sad expression,” according to reports.
Upon the departure of the transport vehicle, President Lee bowed to the family members, and First Lady Kim Jeong-ok embraced Kim Jeong-ok before shaking hands with President Lee.
Why It Matters
The public display of grief from President Lee underscores the close relationship he shared with Lee Hae-chan, a veteran politician who served in multiple high-ranking positions throughout his career. Lee Hae-chan’s support was particularly notable during Lee Jae-myung’s presidential campaign, as evidenced by the footage shown at the funeral. This public mourning could be seen as an effort by President Lee to demonstrate respect for a key ally and to project an image of empathy and leadership during a time of national mourning. The relationship between the two men highlights the interconnectedness of South Korea’s political landscape and the importance of alliances within the Democratic Party.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The Korea Times and added independent analysis and context.
