1. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Park Joo-sun led an ROK government delegation to the cremation ceremony for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol, held at the Sanam Luang public square in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 26.

o The ROK delegation consisted of lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties, including Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Park Joo-sun (People's Party), Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Baek Seung-joo, Bareun Party lawmaker Ji Sang-wook, and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kang Byung-won.

o The funeral of late King Bhumibol, organized by the Thai government, will take place over a five-day period, starting on the 25th and concluding on the 29th of October.

2. The ROK delegation met with President of the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand Pornpetch Wichitcholchai on October 25, the first day of the funeral for late King Bhumibol, and expressed condolences over the late Thai King on behalf of the government and people of the ROK.

o Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Park and President of the National Legislative Assembly Pornpetch also agreed to pursue cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries to make sure that with next year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the ROK-Thailand Strategic Partnership will make a leap forward.

o At the cremation ceremony on October 26, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Park also had conversations with delegates from countries around the world, including US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Vice Premier of the State Council of China Zhang Gaoli, Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma of Russia Olga Epifanova, and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Fikri Isik, and paid respects to the late Thai King’s contributions to the integration of Thailand.

3. Late King Bhumibol commanded great love and respect among the Thai people, as he actively practiced love for the people during his 70-year reign. The late King is seen as having played a central role in the national integration and reconciliation.

o Late King Bhumibol also contributed significantly to advancing the ROK-Thailand relations, as Thai soldiers fought in the Korean War and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established during his reign.

4. Immediately after the death of late King Bhumibol on October 13 last year, the ROK government released a condolence statement by the President. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister visited an altar set up at the Embassy of Thailand in the ROK in person and expressed condolences to the death of the late King.


* unofficial translation