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After former President Kim Young-sam’s funeral at the National Assembly in Seoul

President Park Geun-hye bowed out of a funeral ceremony for late former President Kim Young-sam for “health reasons.”

Instead of attending the ceremony, Park paid a visit on the afternoon of Nov. 26 to the funeral home at Seoul National University Hospital where a wake for Kim had been set up.

Park’s no-show was interpreted by many as a reflection of unhappiness with Kim, a figure who had frictions with her and her father, former President Park Chung-hee (in office 1961-79). For many, her failure to attend a ceremony that was billed as a “moment of unity” transcending philosophical, regional, and factional differences only heightens her image as being “uncommunicative” in her leadership - in contrast with Kim‘s focus on tolerance and harmony.

Park visited the funeral home for seven minutes, during which time she expressed her condolences again to Kim’s family and silently watched the coffin being loaded onto a hearse before observing with clasped hands as it was borne away.

Park had recently been suffering from cold symptoms, which were exacerbated by overwork related to an upcoming ten-day-long tour of multilateral meetings overseas, sources reported.

Blue House senior public relations secretary Kim Sung-woo previously told reporters that Park’s physician “recommended that she avoid long exposure to the air outdoors, as she is suffering from high temperatures and other cold symptoms and long periods outside in cold weather could cause problems for her upcoming overseas travels.”

a hearse takes his body to the National Cemetery in Dongjak district

Park is scheduled to leave on Nov. 29 for a tour that will take her to Paris for the 2015 Climate Conference - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) on Nov. 30 and summits in four central European countries.

“To show the utmost respect, President Park decided to travel to the wake at SNU Hospital just before the procession departed to express condolences for the diseases and console the family once again,” Kim said.

But her absence marks the first time in South Korean history that a president did not attend a predecessor’s funeral ceremony. Lee Myung-bak attended funeral ceremonies for Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun in May and August 2009, respectively, while Roh had previously attended the national funeral of Choi Kyu-ha in October 2006. As acting president, Choi had attended the funeral of Park Chung-hee in 1979, while Kim Young-sam, who was then president of the New Democratic Party, attended a coffin-bearing ceremony at the Blue House to light incense and greet Park’s surviving family members.

Nov. 26. (National Assembly photo pool)

“President Park did cite health issues, but it’s still extraordinary for a president not to attend to a funeral ceremony,” said a public opinion expert on condition of anonymity.

“This could end up further solidifying her image as lacking in tolerance and unity and lead to charges that she is letting personal feelings influence state affairs,” the source added.

Indeed, her recent decision not to send flowers for the funeral of former Saenuri Party (NFP) floor leader Yoo Seong-min’s father had already raised questions even among her supporters about her commitment to “unity.” Her absence from Kim’s funeral only seems likely to provoke more criticism over perceived “pettiness” and “narrow-mindedness.”

“President Kim was the first democratically elected leader, and his administration was the first to hold democratic legitimacy,” said one Saenuri member.

“The ceremony was intended as an opportunity to heal national divisions and social conflict, which President Park did not take advantage of,” the source lamented.

By Choi Hye-jung, staff reporter

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