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President Lee Jaemyung went to the funeral home of the late former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan on the 27th to express his condolences. President Lee conferred the highest National Medal of Honor, the Order of Mugunghwa, posthumously to the deceased.

President Lee, along with First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, toured the funeral home of the former prime minister, located in the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that afternoon. Following the placement of flowers and the burning of incense, President Lee honored the deceased by posthumously presenting the Order of Mugunghwa, a National Medal of Honor, beside the portrait of the late individual.

The Presidential Medal of Honor is given to people who have greatly contributed to the political, economic, social, educational, or academic areas, thus improving public well-being and national progress. The Order of Mugunghwa is the top-tier medal within the five levels of the National Medal of Honor.

After receiving the posthumous honor, President Lee Jaemyung was observed wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. First Lady Kim provided comfort to the grieving family by hugging them. Following the visit of condolence, President Lee and First Lady Kim expressed their sympathy to the wife of the late prime minister, Kim Jeong-ok, in the reception area. Attendees at the meeting included Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Jung Chung-rae, Ms. Kwon Yang-sook, former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, and author Rhyu Si-min.

President Lee Jaemyung has received active support from the late prime minister since his time as a non-mainstream figure within the party. When President Lee faced intense criticism from pro-Moon (親文) factions during his tenure as Democratic Party leader in 2018, the former prime minister defended him, calling him “a precious asset of the party.” In the 2022 presidential election, the former prime minister lent his support group to bolster President Lee’s campaign. At that time, President Lee attended the late prime minister’s memoir publication ceremony and said, “He is the adult I respect the most.”

The former prime minister was quickly taken to a nearby hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on the 23rd during a business visit, after experiencing signs of breathing difficulties. Despite local medical professionals diagnosing a heart attack and carrying out treatments like “stent placement,” the late prime minister never regained awareness.