By Kim Rahn
Hundreds of mourners bid farewell to Choue Young-seek, the founder of Kyung Hee University, at a funeral ceremony held at the Grand Peace Palace on the campus Thursday.
Choue died of natural causes on Saturday. He was 91.
Participants in the funeral included David Chatterson, Canadian ambassador to Korea; Spanish Ambassador Luis Arias Romero; Paraguayan Ambassador Ceferino Valdez; Ecuadorian Ambassador Nicolas Trujillo Newlin; Guatemalan Ambassador Rafael Salazar; Rwandan Ambassador Eugene Segore Kayihura; Ryosho Tanigama, president of Nippon Sport and Science University; and Tajiri Tsugio, president of Tokyo International University.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a eulogy for the service.
The hearse toured the campus before heading to the burial site in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
During the mourning period since his death, some 6,000 people paid their respects to Choue, including high-profile figures in politics, business and academia, according to the school.
President Lee Myung-bak visited a memorial altar Monday, writing in a guest book: “We’ll remember his contribution to Korea’s education.”
Other mourners included Democratic United Party lawmakers Sohn Hak-kyu and Chung Dong-young, the party’s senior advisor Moon Jae-in, Saenuri Party lawmaker Park Jin, former Prime Minister Lee Su-seong, and former Vice Prime Minister Lee Hun-jae.
Those from business included LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-gu, and Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Seung-yu. Media and academic figures also visited the altar.
The bereaved family received some 120 condolatory messages from overseas figures.
Choue had devoted his life to promoting education and world peace.