Thousands gather for funeral of democracy advocate Cardinal Kim

(ATTN: UPDATES details of the funeral, Kim's North Korean activities in paras 2-6, 13)
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 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 in four days as
mourners paid their final respects to the spiritual leader.
"Cardinal Kim has been the light and hope for the country, for Catholics and
non-Catholics alike," said Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, addressing those
gathered for the funeral Mass. "We pray for you to rest in peace in the world of
God."
The ceremony drew a crowd of 800, ranging from members of the Catholic clergy to
ordinary citizens, joining together in tearful prayer for the late cardinal.
There were five memorial addresses, including one by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo
and another by Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, appointed apostolic nuncio to Korea by
the Holy See.
Hundreds more stood outside the building 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'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." Kim will be buried in a grave for
Catholic priests in Yongin, just outside Seoul.
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. He was in charge of the
diocese of Pyongyang in North Korea from 1975-1998, although he was never able to
travel to the communist state which remains technically at war with South Korea.
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
(END)