Veterans minister pays respects at tombs of former President Kim Dae-jung, first lady Yuk Young-soo

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kwon Oh-eul visited Seoul National Cemetery on Saturday to pay his respects at the graves of former President Kim Dae-jung and former first lady Yuk Young-soo on the occasions of their respective death anniversaries, the ministry said.

Kwon visited the burial sites of both Kim and Yuk at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Liberation Day — Saturday — laying flowers and burning incense at each grave in turn, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans.

Kwon first paid his respects at Kim's tomb, honoring the late president's contributions to the advancement of democracy in South Korea and his role in steering the nation through times of crisis. Kim's official death anniversary falls on Tuesday, Aug. 18, but the ministry said Kwon visited three days early to accommodate the government's CPX military exercise, which is scheduled to begin that day.

Kwon then moved to the tomb of Yuk Young-soo, whose death anniversary fell on Saturday. Yuk is buried alongside former President Park Chung-hee. A condolence wreath sent in the name of President Lee Jae Myung was also on display at the Yuk memorial service held at the Seoul National Cemetery memorial hall.

Since taking office, Kwon has made visits to the graves of former heads of state and their spouses a regular part of his efforts to promote national unity across ideological and political lines.

Among former presidents, he has paid his respects at the tombs of Kim Dae-jung, Park Chung-hee, Kim Young-sam, Yun Po-sun and Syngman Rhee. He has also visited the graves of their spouses — Yuk Young-soo, Son Myong-sun, Francesca, Lee Hee-ho and Hong Ki.