(2nd LD) S. Korea to hold second-ever state funeral for late

President Kim
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 7)
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."
Kim will also become the first former South Korean president to be honored with a
state funeral, as Park died while in office.
Following Kim's death, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and other top government
officials pledged to offer the government's highest respect to him in the funeral
service.
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.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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