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| President Moon Jae-in holds his grandson at a memorial altar for his late mother Kang Han-ok at the Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Busan, Wednesday. Yonhap |
By Do Je-hae
Kang Han-ok, the mother of President Moon Jae-in, died Tuesday at a hospital in Busan, Tuesday. She was 92. President Moon is the first sitting president to lose a parent while in office.
Moon remembered the life of the late Kang in an emotional Facebook post, Wednesday, and thanked the people for sharing their condolences.
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| Leaders from Korea's major religious faiths enter the Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Busan to pay their respects to the late Kang Han-ok, mother of President Moon Jae-in. Yonhap |
"Like all mothers in this country, she had some hardship, but her final words spoke of happiness. Throughout her life, she missed her hometown, to which she could not return," Moon wrote of his late mother who was born in North Korea's South Hamgyong Province. She settled in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, in 1950 during the Korean War. "After my father died 41 years ago, she lived a life devoted to her children and her faith. I wish her everlasting rest and peace in heaven."
U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris also shared some warm thoughts for Moon and his late mother. "Deepest condolences to President Moon for the passing of his mother Kang Han Ok. An amazing woman with an incredible history and remarkable legacy. Bruni's and my thoughts and prayers are with the President and his family at this difficult time," the envoy wrote on Twitter.
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| U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris pays tribute to the late Kang Han-ok, mother of President Moon Jae-in a Twitter message. Captured from Twitter |
Despite the President's personal tragedy, Cheong Wa Dae has assured the public that it will not affect his handling of state affairs. Moon did not receive politicians, such as former Interior Minister Kim Bu-gyeom, who came to Busan early Wednesday to pay his respects in person, according to presidential sources. "Cheong Wa Dae will maintain its routine, centering around presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min," presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung told reporters. Moon has ordered a "family-only" burial service for his mother and has urged aides and government officials to stay focused on their jobs. He also turned away flowers sent by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, cabinet members and party leaders to distance the occasion from politics.
Another aide said the President would carry out his schedule regardless of his personal circumstances. Cheong Wa Dae has postponed a meeting on anti-corruption policies scheduled for today, but there will be no change to a range of diplomatic events taking place next month.
On Monday, Cheong Wa Dae announced a series of trips, starting with the Nov. 2 to 4 ASEAN summit in Thailand. Moon will take part in a funeral for his late mother today at Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross and is expected to return to Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, to prepare for the ASEAN event, where he will focus on reaffirming cooperation with Southeast Asia. Moon will also travel to South America for the Nov. 16 and 17 APEC meeting in Chile and host the Nov. 25 to 27 Korea-ASEAN summit in Busan. Cheong Wa Dae is hoping to find a diplomatic breakthrough in November narrow its differences with Tokyo before a military intelligence-sharing pact with the neighboring country ends Nov. 23.
