Memorial for German sociologist due in Seoul

Ulrich Beck

• Published Mar 12, 2015 5:53 PM KST
• Updated Mar 12, 2015 5:53 PM KST

By Baek Byung-yeul

A memorial service for recently deceased German sociologist Ulrich Beck will be held in Seoul on Tuesday, the Joongmin Foundation for Social Theory announced Thursday.

Beck, known as an author of “Risk Society,” a best-selling sociology book that examines the way modern society deals with risk, died of a heart attack in January. He was 70. During his lifetime, Beck became known to Koreans for actively engaging with local sociologists. He also expressed his deepest condolences for bereaved family members of more than 300 victims of the Sewol Ferry incident when he visited Korea in July.

The foundation said the memorial service will be conducted with Buddhist rites, which will be headed by the Rev. Myung Jin, a former abbot of Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul.

Emceed by Seoul National University Honorary Professor Han Sang-jin, the memorial will be attended by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon; Lee Gun, former president of University of Seoul; and Chun Myeong-seon, representing bereaved family members from the Sewol ferry tragedy.

The memorial service will be at the Korea Press Center at 4 p.m.