First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam writes a message of condolences at the German Embassy in Korea on June 21 to commemorate Germany's late former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who passed away on June 16. (Jeon Han)
By Hur SomEe and Kim Young Shin
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 28 that Democratic Party leader Choo Mi-ae will attend the European Ceremony of Honor for Helmut Kohl, the late former German chancellor, in Strasbourg, France, on July 1.
The European Union said that it is holding its first official funeral to honor Kohl who contributed to the reunification of Germany and to the establishment of the EU.
On June 17, President Moon Jae-in, upon hearing of the passing of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, sent a telegram of condolences to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and posted a commemorative message on his personal Facebook profile.
“It is sad to lose Chancellor Kohl, who played a leading role in Germany’s unification,” wrote President Moon. “I sent a telegram of condolences to lament with the German people who lost a great leader.”
He continued to say that, “I ask my fellow citizens to console grieving Germans and to take Chancellor Kohl’s passing as an opportunity to think about the power of reconciliation that lead to Germany’s reunification.”
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