The 61st memorial service for Unam Syngman Rhee, the founding president of the Republic of Korea, was solemnly held at the Seoul National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on the 19th. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

Attendees are visiting and paying their respects at the gravesite of President Syngman Rhee at the Seoul National Cemetery. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

The 61st memorial service for Unam Syngman Rhee, the founding president of the Republic of Korea, was solemnly held at the Seoul National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on the 19th.

Hosted by the Syngman Rhee Foundation, the memorial service was attended by a wide range of figures from all walks of life, including ruling and opposition lawmakers, government and political officials, the bereaved family, and citizens, who gathered to honor the deceased’s achievements and reaffirm their commitment to inheriting the spirit of nation-building.

“How one views Dr. Syngman Rhee is how one views the Republic of Korea”

Attendees at the site included political figures such as People Power Party lawmakers Kwon Young-se, Kim So-hee, and Lee Jin-sook, and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok. Also present were Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon O-eul, Syngman Rhee Foundation President Kim Nam-soo, Standing Advisor Kim Moon-soo, Commission on Shared Growth for Large and Small Companies Chairman (and Head of Standing Advisors) Chung Un-chan, Wooho Cultural Foundation Chairman Shin Chul-sik, Freedom and Innovation Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn, and NewDaily Chairman In Bo-gil. Representing the bereaved family were his daughter-in-law, Jo Hye-ja, and his grandson, Lee Byung-goo, who serves as the representative of Ihwajang.

The memorial service commenced with an opening declaration by Choi Jae-hyung, Standing Representative of the Trust Forum. In his opening address, Representative Choi stated, “How one views Dr. Syngman Rhee determines how one views the Republic of Korea,” signaling the start of the ceremony, followed by a moment of silent tribute from all attendees.

“Roots of liberal democracy and market economy… We must reclaim erased achievements”

In his memorial address, Syngman Rhee Foundation President Kim Nam-soo emphasized, “When the nation was suffering from poverty and enduring a brutal war, our founding leader, Dr. Syngman Rhee, was always by our side. It was his founding ideology that laid the foundation for the miracle that elevated our national standing in the 21st century, and the ‘Unam Spirit’ became the root of our liberal democracy and market economy.”

President Kim continued by expressing concern, saying, “Today, the anti-communist spirit and the spirit of Syngman Rhee, which clearly distinguished democracy from communism, have lost their footing, and countless achievements have been erased.” He urged, “Now, everyone must wake up to reclaim our lost founding spirit and devote themselves to establishing the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea.”

Representing the government, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon O-eul remarked, “President Rhee’s life runs parallel to the history of the trials and triumphs we have faced over the past century,” while recalling the final legacy left by the late president.

Minister Kwon further paid tribute by stating, “Our people must realize how difficult and arduous it was to regain the independence of our lost nation. Reflecting deeply on his words—that we must use the unhappy history of the past as a mirror to ensure we never again wear the yoke of slavery of any kind—I pray for the President’s eternal rest.”

Emphasis on the legacy of cool-headed, national-interest-centered diplomacy

Subsequently, People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook took the podium, stating, “When the Republic of Korea remained amidst the ruins of war and absolute poverty, Dr. Rhee’s vision was already set on the Korea that lay beyond.” She added, “Politics, which divides our society by labeling others as enemies simply due to differences in thought and prioritizing the victory of one’s camp over the nation’s future, makes me reflect once again on the spirit of freedom and community that the Doctor spoke of.”

Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok shed light on President Rhee’s exceptional diplomatic foresight, while Standing Advisor Kim Moon-soo emphasized, “There is no future for us in socialism. Freedom and unification are our tasks, and a free individual and innovative enterprises are our future.”

Reading of the 1948 founding commemorative address, family remarks, and gravesite visit

Commission on Shared Growth for Large and Small Companies Chairman Chung Un-chan performed a meaningful segment by reading excerpts from President Rhee’s past founding commemorative address. Chairman Chung recited the ‘five basic elements of nation-building’ proposed by President Rhee: trust in democracy, protection of civil rights and individual freedom, the role of a government that encourages mutual understanding and consultation, and the improvement of living standards for rural, fishing, and working communities.

Following the memorial addresses, the ceremony proceeded with the laying of flowers and incense before the portraits of President Syngman Rhee and Francesca Donner. The bereaved family, including Ms. Jo Hye-ja, along with the representatives of the guests, paid their respects to the deceased.

Representing the family, grandson Lee Byung-goo, head of Ihwajang, directly refuted some of the negative assessments. He stated, “There are those who call President Rhee the ‘father of pro-Japanese collaborators,’ but that is not the case. Regarding pro-Japanese collaborators in the past, President Rhee said, ‘What should truly be condemned is the sin of those who created a country where one could not survive without engaging in pro-Japanese acts.’”

He further emphasized, “It was also President Rhee’s basic goal to educate the communists well and lead them to repent.”

The event concluded after the indoor memorial service, with attendees visiting and paying their respects at President Syngman Rhee’s gravesite within the Seoul National Cemetery.