ID :
76309
Thu, 08/20/2009 - 20:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/76309
The shortlink copeid
Kim`s body moved to National Assembly
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- With hundreds of thousands of mourners queuing at
altars nationwide to pay their respects to former President Kim Dae-jung, the
late leader's body was moved to the parliament building in central Seoul Thursday
after being placed in a coffin in a Catholic ceremony.
Kim will lie in state at the official altar in front of the National Assembly
until Sunday, when the government will hold its second-ever state funeral for the
former president, lauded at home and abroad for his lifelong campaign for
democracy, inter-Korean peace and human rights.
Kim, who served as president from 1998-2003, died of pneumonia and its
complications at Seoul's Severance Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 85.
Beginning at noon, Kim's family members performed a rite of placing his body in a
coffin at the Yonsei University-run hospital, with only a small group of
immediate family, former aides, doctors and Catholic priests observing.
"I truly loved and respected you for enduring a painful and turbulent life," his
wife and former first lady Lee Hee-ho said, reading from her private letter. "I
now wish you would rest in peace and the love of God... I am proud of you."
Lee placed a letter, a Bible and a number of Kim's personal belongings, including
a handkerchief and a small hand-knit blanket, in the coffin.
"He looked calm and clean," Choi Kyung-hwan, a spokesman for the Kim family, said.
Following the arrival of the coffin, covered with a large South Korean flag,
people were allowed to come to the main alter to pay their respects.
On Thursday alone, more than 100,000 people visited the government's 175 official
altars established nationwide by the central and provincial governments,
according to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security.
The ministry, in charge of the government-sponsored state funeral, said the
government and Kim's family have agreed not to hold a separate street funeral
rite following Sunday's funeral service that will begin at 2 p.m.
Kim will be transferred to the Seoul National Cemetery immediately after the
funeral service.
After the funeral of Kim's predecessor Roh Moo-hyun, who died in May, a massive
street funeral rite was staged in accordance with traditional procedures at Seoul
Plaza, with tens of thousands of citizens attending.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
altars nationwide to pay their respects to former President Kim Dae-jung, the
late leader's body was moved to the parliament building in central Seoul Thursday
after being placed in a coffin in a Catholic ceremony.
Kim will lie in state at the official altar in front of the National Assembly
until Sunday, when the government will hold its second-ever state funeral for the
former president, lauded at home and abroad for his lifelong campaign for
democracy, inter-Korean peace and human rights.
Kim, who served as president from 1998-2003, died of pneumonia and its
complications at Seoul's Severance Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 85.
Beginning at noon, Kim's family members performed a rite of placing his body in a
coffin at the Yonsei University-run hospital, with only a small group of
immediate family, former aides, doctors and Catholic priests observing.
"I truly loved and respected you for enduring a painful and turbulent life," his
wife and former first lady Lee Hee-ho said, reading from her private letter. "I
now wish you would rest in peace and the love of God... I am proud of you."
Lee placed a letter, a Bible and a number of Kim's personal belongings, including
a handkerchief and a small hand-knit blanket, in the coffin.
"He looked calm and clean," Choi Kyung-hwan, a spokesman for the Kim family, said.
Following the arrival of the coffin, covered with a large South Korean flag,
people were allowed to come to the main alter to pay their respects.
On Thursday alone, more than 100,000 people visited the government's 175 official
altars established nationwide by the central and provincial governments,
according to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security.
The ministry, in charge of the government-sponsored state funeral, said the
government and Kim's family have agreed not to hold a separate street funeral
rite following Sunday's funeral service that will begin at 2 p.m.
Kim will be transferred to the Seoul National Cemetery immediately after the
funeral service.
After the funeral of Kim's predecessor Roh Moo-hyun, who died in May, a massive
street funeral rite was staged in accordance with traditional procedures at Seoul
Plaza, with tens of thousands of citizens attending.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
