ID :
76105
Thu, 08/20/2009 - 08:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/76105
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to hold second-ever state funeral for late President Kim
SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government said Wednesday that it has decided to hold its second-ever state funeral for the late President Kim Dae-jung in Seoul on Sunday in recognition of his contributions to the nation.
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.
According to the decision approved at a special Cabinet meeting presided over by
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, the state funeral for the late Kim will take place
at 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the National Assembly Plaza on Yeouido, central Seoul,
after a six-day mourning period. Burial will be at the Seoul National Cemetery in
Dongjak-dong, southern Seoul.
The prime minister, who pledged to offer the government's highest respect to Kim
in the funeral process, has been named sole chairman of the state funeral
organizing committee.
South Korea's only other state funeral was held in 1979, when then President Park
Chung-hee was assassinated. Kim, who served as president from 1998-2003, will
also become the first former South Korean head of state to be honored with a
state funeral, as Park died while in office.
Former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun (1946-2009) and Choi Kyu-ha (1919-2006) were both
honored with a "people's funeral."
Under current law, a state funeral is fully sponsored by the government and can
last up to nine days, with flags hung at half-mast throughout the mourning
period. In a people's funeral, the government covers just parts of the expenses,
and national flags are flown at half-mast only on the funeral day.
The funerals for Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea, and Yun
Po-sun, who succeeded Rhee, were held privately by their families in accordance
with their wishes.
According to officials, the government recommended a people's funeral for the
late Kim in consideration of the precedents for other deceased former presidents,
but Kim's family and followers have consistently demanded a state funeral, citing
his accomplishments in inter-Korean reconciliation and democratization.
Welcoming the government's decision, Rep. Park Jie-won, a spokesman for the Kim
family, said, "Former President Kim's family members, including former first lady
Lee Hee-ho, expressed deep gratitude to President Lee Myung-bak and the
government for the decision to hold a state funeral."
Park, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party, also said the late Kim's
family will perform a rite of placing his body in a coffin at noon Thursday
before sending it to the official altar set up at the National Assembly.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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.
According to the decision approved at a special Cabinet meeting presided over by
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, the state funeral for the late Kim will take place
at 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the National Assembly Plaza on Yeouido, central Seoul,
after a six-day mourning period. Burial will be at the Seoul National Cemetery in
Dongjak-dong, southern Seoul.
The prime minister, who pledged to offer the government's highest respect to Kim
in the funeral process, has been named sole chairman of the state funeral
organizing committee.
South Korea's only other state funeral was held in 1979, when then President Park
Chung-hee was assassinated. Kim, who served as president from 1998-2003, will
also become the first former South Korean head of state to be honored with a
state funeral, as Park died while in office.
Former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun (1946-2009) and Choi Kyu-ha (1919-2006) were both
honored with a "people's funeral."
Under current law, a state funeral is fully sponsored by the government and can
last up to nine days, with flags hung at half-mast throughout the mourning
period. In a people's funeral, the government covers just parts of the expenses,
and national flags are flown at half-mast only on the funeral day.
The funerals for Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea, and Yun
Po-sun, who succeeded Rhee, were held privately by their families in accordance
with their wishes.
According to officials, the government recommended a people's funeral for the
late Kim in consideration of the precedents for other deceased former presidents,
but Kim's family and followers have consistently demanded a state funeral, citing
his accomplishments in inter-Korean reconciliation and democratization.
Welcoming the government's decision, Rep. Park Jie-won, a spokesman for the Kim
family, said, "Former President Kim's family members, including former first lady
Lee Hee-ho, expressed deep gratitude to President Lee Myung-bak and the
government for the decision to hold a state funeral."
Park, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party, also said the late Kim's
family will perform a rite of placing his body in a coffin at noon Thursday
before sending it to the official altar set up at the National Assembly.
ycm@yna.co.kr
