Lee Hae-chan brought home

The body of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died suddenly while on a trip to Vietnam, returned to South Korea early Tuesday.

A Korean Air flight carrying Lee’s remains departed Ho Chi Minh City and arrived at Incheon Airport at 6:53 a.m. Lee’s bereaved family members were on board the flight, along with Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Reps. Cho Jeong-sik, Kim Young-bae, Kim Hyun and Choi Min-hee.

Lee was welcomed at the airport by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Rep. Woo Won-shik, Democratic Party leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae and floor leader Rep. Han Byung-do, who arrived around 6 a.m. to receive the late former prime minister.

Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young — a longtime associate of Lee for more than five decades — and Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, were also present.

Following the arrival at the airport, the hearse carrying Lee’s remains departed for Seoul and arrived at Seoul National University Hospital Funeral Hall at around 9 a.m.

At the funeral hall, around 30 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party, including senior spokesperson Rep. Park Soo-hyun and floor communication chief Rep. Jeon Yong-gi, had gathered earlier in the morning to receive Lee's body.

Inside the memorial room, floral tributes sent by senior officials — including President Lee Jae Myung, Prime Minister Kim, Speaker Woo and Democratic Party leader Jung — were placed side by side. Jung is expected to serve as chief mourner from noon, greeting visitors throughout the day.

Lee’s funeral will be held over five days at Seoul National University Hospital Funeral Hall through Saturday.

In accordance with the bereaved family's wishes, the government has decided to hold a civic funeral. It will also provide state-level support in cooperation with the Presidential Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification, on which Lee served as senior vice chair.

Lee, who served as prime minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, collapsed after suffering a heart attack Friday while on an official visit to Vietnam in his capacity as senior vice chair of the advisory council.

He was treated at a local hospital but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on Jan. 25.