Seoul: The funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who passed away in Vietnam, will take place over five days this week, combining a "social funeral" and an "institutional funeral" to honor his societal contributions, officials announced on Monday. Lee, serving as a senior vice president of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), died in Ho Chi Minh City following a cardiac arrest.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the funeral, organized by PUAC and the ruling Democratic Party, will be held from Tuesday to Saturday. Lee's body is due to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday morning before being transported to the funeral venue. The service is set to be a social funeral, recognizing Lee's societal impact, and an institutional funeral, arranged by a specific organization. Notably, the ceremony will last five days, which exceeds the typical three-day funeral period in South Korea.
PUAC has announced that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will preside as head of the funeral committee. Seoul National University emeritus professor Paik Nak-chung and Democratic Party Chairman Jung Chung-rai will also serve on the committee. Lee had arrived in Vietnam on Thursday and collapsed on Friday due to worsening flu-like symptoms, before passing away after a stent procedure.
Lee's remains were transported to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, escorted by Vietnamese police. Officials noted the Vietnamese foreign ministry's assistance in expediting the repatriation process, ensuring cooperation from quarantine and customs authorities. The procedure, which typically requires at least three days, involves securing multiple documents, including a local death certificate and an embalming certificate.
The Korean Air flight transporting Lee's body in a specialized container is scheduled to depart Vietnam at 11:50 p.m. on Monday.