'YS's right-hand man' Late Choi Hyung-woo draws a stream of mourners... Ruling and opposition parties unite in mourning a 'great elder of democratization'

[Financial News] Mourners continued to stream to the funeral hall of the late Choi Hyung-woo, former interior minister and a key figure in the Sangdo-dong faction who was former President Kim Young-sam's (YS) closest aide, on the 25th, the second day after his death. Current and former politicians from across the political aisle gathered to jointly honor Choi's dedication to forging a path to democracy with resolve during the dark days of military dictatorship, turning the funeral hall into a place of unity.


Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is a co-chair of the funeral committee, visited the funeral hall at Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in succession.
After paying his respects at around 10:30 a.m., Kim said, "Former Minister Choi was a great elder of the democracy movement who worked to uphold the spirit of the Busan–Masan Uprising and 5·18," adding, "I hope this will be an opportunity for the ruling and opposition parties to reaffirm their shared roots in democracy and reflect together." Jang, who visited the funeral hall with party leaders at around 3 p.m., recalled his time working at the Ministry of Education, saying, "Former Minister Choi was someone who always rode the elevator with ordinary staff and communicated with them, rather than taking the elevator reserved for ministers." He added, "I will strive to pursue better politics that makes the people smile, in keeping with the deceased's wishes."
President Lee Jae-myung, former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Moon Jae-in, and National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik, among others, sent floral wreaths and mourning flags to honor the deceased.


Prominent politicians who visited the funeral hall recalled their special ties with the deceased. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "He was a role model for our generation," adding, "I always admired his indomitable courage as he quietly walked the path to democracy with resolve and patience during those dark days." Lee Jun-seok, former leader of the Reform Party, expressed his gratitude to Choi, saying, "I followed the minister's advice—'If you want to win an election, take off your dress shoes, put on sneakers, and run 100 ri'—and hit the campaign trail, and I won in Dongtan."
Elders also delivered sharp criticism of today's political arena, which remains mired in intense confrontation. Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, speaking about the Sangdo-dong and Donggyo-dong factions gathering in one place, said, "In the past, the Sangdo-dong faction competed while also cooperating, and after competing during the day, they would call each other older and younger brothers and have drinks in the evening." He then rebuked today's politicians: "The ruling and opposition parties have become bitter enemies, as if they will never see each other again. Those elders would find today's politics utterly pathetic."

The funeral hall drew a large gathering that day, including Sangdo-dong faction elders such as Kim Hyun-chul, YS's second son and head of the Kim Young-sam Presidential Memorial Foundation; Kim Moo-sung, former leader of the Saenuri Party; and Kim Deok-ryong, head of the Kim Young-sam Democracy Center. Donggyo-dong faction and pro-Roh figures also attended, including Han Kwang-ok, former chief of staff, and Yoo In-tae, former secretary-general of the National Assembly. Kim Hyun-chul said, "When my father was under house arrest during the new military regime, Minister Choi came through the soldiers and shed tears of anguish with him," recalling their close comradeship.
The funeral will be held as a joint funeral organized by the Korea Association of Former Members of the National Assembly, the 4·19 Revolution Comrades Association, and the Council for the Promotion of Democracy. Kwon No-gap, chair of the Kim Dae-jung Foundation and a senior Donggyo-dong faction figure; Kim Deok-ryong of the Sangdo-dong faction; and Chung Dae-chul, head of the Korea Association of Former Members of the National Assembly, will serve as co-chairs of the funeral committee. The funeral procession will depart at 7 a.m. on the 27th, and the burial site will be the April 19th National Cemetery.


[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter