Late veterans chief awarded posthumous civil service medal

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday awarded a medal
of civil merit to the late head of the Korea Veterans Association, Park Seh-jik,
for his service to the country.

Park was posthumously awarded the Mugunghwa Medal, the highest order of civil
merit, as the president paid his respects to the former lawmaker and Seoul mayor
at a memorial altar set up at a Seoul hospital.
Park died Monday while hospitalized for pneumonia. He was 75 years old.
"Park has always been a good example for others to follow as he lived his entire
life for the country," President Lee was quoted as saying.
Park retired as an Army major general in 1982 and led the veterans association,
which claims more than 8 million members, since 2006. He served as the sports
minister and was elected to the National Assembly in 1992 and 1996.
He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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