1. President Park Geun-hye sent a letter to President Reuven Rivlin of Israel on September 29 to offer condolences from her and the other nationals of the Republic of Korea over the passing of former President Shimon Peres of Israel, bringing renewed attention to the work of the late President for the development of Israel and peace in the Middle East.

° Likewise, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se has sent to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a letter of sympathy.

2. Former President Peres, from the time he joined the political circle in 1959 until he left it in 2014 at the age of 90, served as Prime Minister, President, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, dedicating his entire life to the development of Israel and earning great respect from the Israelis.

° In particular, he took an active part in efforts to establish peace between Israel and Palestine, being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his contribution to the conclusion of the Oslo Accords in 1994 during service as Foreign Minister.

3. The ROK government has dispatched a delegation led by lawmaker Hong Moon-jong to the state funeral for former President Peres, which will take place in Jerusalem on September 30.


* unofficial translation