'Remove President Lee's wreath': Mourners attempt to damage floral tribute at Park Chung-hee memorial

Some attendees at the 47th anniversary memorial ceremony for former President Park Chung-hee attempted to damage a floral wreath sent in the name of President Lee Jae Myung, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs confirmed Tuesday. The ministry said cemetery staff moved the wreath to a safe location to prevent damage. It also rejected online claims that the wreath had been burned, calling them false information and saying it is considering legal action.

According to the ministry, the incident occurred Monday at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, after the conclusion of the memorial ceremony, when some attendees attempted to forcibly move the wreath bearing Lee's name.

"During the public floral tribute and memorial service that followed the ceremony, some attendees attempted to damage the presidential wreath, including trying to forcibly move it," the ministry said in a statement distributed to media. "Cemetery staff had no choice but to relocate it to a safe location."

Videos posted on YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms showed some attendees directing profanity at the wreath sent in Lee's name.

Under standard cemetery policy, a wreath bearing the president's name is kept at the memorial site — including the burial area — until 6 p.m. on the day of the ceremony, and is disposed of the following day.

In this case, however, the ministry said cemetery staff moved the wreath to another location earlier than scheduled because of the ongoing attempts by some attendees to damage it.

The ministry also pushed back against online posts claiming that Lee's wreath had been set on fire, saying the claims were untrue.

"Some social media posts claiming that the presidential wreath was burned are clearly false and fabricated information," the ministry said. "We plan to respond firmly, including by considering legal action."

This is not the first time a sitting president's wreath has sparked controversy at a memorial ceremony for Park.

In 2020, a man in his 60s was indicted on charges of damaging public property after allegedly discarding a funeral wreath sent by then-President Moon Jae-in that had been placed at Park's burial site. He was acquitted at trial in the first instance.