Moon recalls his late mother's hard but 'happy' life
A condolence wreath sent by Cabinet Members are denied at Namchun Catholic Church in Busan, Wednesday, where a funeral service for Kang Han-ok, mother of President Moon Jae-in, is held. President Moon said he wanted the funeral for Kang, who passed away Tuesday, to be quiet and involve only his family members. Yonhap
President Moon Jae-in leaves the hospital in Busan, Tuesday, where his mother, Kang Han-ok, died earlier the day. Yonhap
President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday his mother was apparently anxious about him being at the center of a choppy political world.
The 92-year-old, Kang Han-ok, died Tuesday evening at a Busan hospital after suffering from an illness for a long time. Busan, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is Moon's hometown.
In his first public message on her death, posted on his Facebook account, Moon said he had not met her often although he knew that the time for farewell was nearing.
He said, however, he was present at her "last departure with a comfortable face," along with other family members.
"Throughout her life, she missed her hometown where she couldn't go back, and she had a difficult life as all other mothers in this land. But she left the words, 'Even so, I was happy,'" Moon said. Kang hails from Hungnam, South Hamgyong Province, which is now in North Korea.
The president said he had given her joy and honor at times, but he was not that good of a son in general.
Moon added his mother must have been concerned that he's standing in the midst of tumultuous local politics. Moon, a former human rights lawyer, entered politics in 2002 as a key member of Roh Moo-hyun's presidential election camp.
Moon said he plans to hold a Catholic funeral for her in accordance with her religious faith with his family and relatives only in attendance. The ritual is slated for Thursday.
President Moon Jae-in and Kang Han-ok head to a Catholic Church Christmas service on Dec. 25, 2016. Courtesy of President Moon's official blog
A private mourning station has been established at Namcheon Catholic Cathedral in the port city.
He politely asked Cheong Wa Dae, government officials and politicians not to make condolence calls or send flowers. He said he wants them to focus instead on state affairs as usual.
Kang is survived by Moon and another son, as well as three daughters. Moon's father died of heart failure in 1978.
The president is taking a special leave and is expected to return to work this weekend. He's scheduled to leave for Bangkok on Sunday to attend an annual ASEAN-plus-three summit. (Yonhap)