Thousands gather for funeral of democracy advocate Cardinal Kim

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of weeping South Koreans gathered Friday for
the funeral of the country's first Roman Catholic cardinal who tirelessly
championed democracy and human rights suppressed by successive military
dictators.

Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan died Monday at a Seoul hospital at the age of 86
after a months- long struggle with pneumonia. His body, laid in a glass case in
Seoul's landmark Myeongdong Cathedral, drew over 400,000 visitors wanting to pay
their final respects to the spiritual leader.
People queued up outside the church from early morning despite the late winter
snow that had fallen the previous night.
"I wanted to say my prayers for him close by," said Shin Young-seon, holding her
five-year-old son by the hand. "Somehow, I still can't believe that he is really
gone. We loved him, just as much as he loved us."
Kim will be buried in a grave for Catholic priests in Yongin, just outside Seoul,
after the funeral ceremony attended by 800 mourners, ranging from members of the
Catholic clergy to ordinary citizens.
Kim's body was placed in a plain wooden coffin. Floral wreathes, including one
from President Lee Myung-bak, were turned back as per the late cardinal's last
wishes to keep the funeral "quiet and simple."
He donated his eyes to two patients who received successful cornea transplants
and his entire wealth to the parish.
Prominent political and social leaders, including President Lee and former
Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Chun Doo-hwan, had visited the cathedral to pay their
last respects.
Kim's death leaves Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, the archbishop of Seoul, as the only
remaining cardinal of South Korea, home to 5 million Catholics. Christians
account for nearly 30 percent of South Korea's 48 million-population, followed by
Buddhists, which account for roughly 23 percent.
Cardinal Kim, ordained by Pope Paul VI in 1969, is remembered by South Koreans
not only as a man of deep faith, but also as an ardent supporter of democracy who
unreservedly stood up against the authoritarian governments that reigned here
from the 1960s through the 80s.
During his sermons, Kim often outspokenly criticized the governments of Park
Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan for suppressing student activists and labor unions.
In 1987, he gave sanctuary to dozens of anti-government student activists at
Myeongdong Cathedral and told authorities who came to arrest them, "You'll be
able to get to the students only after you get past me, the priests and the
nuns."
Kim was born to a poor family in the southeastern city of Daegu in 1922 as the
youngest son of eight children. His family's Catholic faith was considered
unusual in the traditionally Confucian society of the time. Catholicism was first
introduced to the peninsula in 1784, and Kim's grandfather died in prison after
being persecuted for his religion.
Kim was the Archbishop of Seoul from 1968-1998 and also showed a deep reverence
for North Korean churches and their congregations.
The government plans to build a memorial hall on behalf of the late cardinal
after discussing the details with the Catholic community, officials at the
culture ministry said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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