Kim to be buried in plain fashion alongside other leaders: official

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- The grave of late former President Kim Dae-jung will
be "simple and environment-friendly" in style and situated in proximity to those
of two of South Korea's highest-profile leaders, the chief of Seoul National
Cemetery said Thursday.

"The family has requested us to create the grave in a style as simple, frugal and
environment-friendly as possible," Jeong Jin-tae told reporters, adding it will
be set up between those of South Korea's first President Rhee Syngman and Park
Chung-hee, the coup d'etat leader who was largely credited with building the
country's economy before being assassinated in 1979.
Kim, who died Tuesday of pneumonia complications at 85, was the first opposition
leader to take office as South Korea's president and met with North Korean leader
Kim Jong-il in 2000 in the first-ever summit meeting between the two rival
countries.
His death prompted nationwide mourning in South Korea, with North Korea promising
to send a delegation to pay respects.
The late Kim's burial site, measuring 24 meters by 25 meters, will be at the
Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, southern Seoul.
South Korea's only other state funeral was held in 1979, when Park was
assassinated by his top intelligence aide.
Kim served as president from 1998-2003.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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