S. Korea to hold second-ever state funeral for late President Kim

SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government has decided to hold its second-ever state funeral for the late President Kim Dae-jung in recognition of his contribution to national development, government officials said Wednesday.

Kim, a lifelong champion of democracy, inter-Korean peace and human rights, died
Tuesday at the age of 85 following a long battle with pneumonia and its
complications.
The state funeral is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the National
Assembly Plaza on Yeouido after a six-day mourning period, and burial will be at
the National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, southern Seoul, said the officials.
"The government has finally decided to hold a six-day state funeral for the late
President Kim Dae-jung," said an informed ranking government official.
"There were some arguments over a state funeral in consideration of precedents
for other deceased former presidents, but President Lee Myung-bak has finally
decided on a state funeral for the late Kim," said the official, adding a plan
will be formally approved later Wednesday night at a Cabinet meeting.
South Korea's only other state funeral was held in 1979, when then President Park
Chung-hee was assassinated. Former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun (1946-2009) and Choi
Kyu-ha (1919-2006) were both honored with a "people's funeral."