By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
The death of former President Roh Moo-hyun is expected to cause the postponement of a scheduled National Assembly session, as analysts worry over a possible ratcheting up of political tension.
The extra session, planned for June 1, is likely to be delayed as both floor leaders of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) and opposition Democratic Party (DP) cancelled a meeting slated for today to discuss its schedule.
The government and bereaved family members have agreed to a seven-day long public funeral for the former head of state. And both parties have begun paying their respects by heading to the late President's hometown in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.
The DP has set up memorials at its offices nationwide and will designate this week as an official mourning period for the late former President who belonged to the party's predecessor. The GNP on Saturday began a meeting with a silent tribute. ``I feel a sense of personal loss as we were colleagues for two years at the training school for those who passed the bar exam,'' said new GNP floor leader Rep. Ahn Sang-soo.
But a group of Roh's supporters have objected to the condolences offered by high-profile political and administrative figures, who they hold responsible for the death of Roh. The supporters also threw away wreathes sent by President Lee Myung-bak and former President Chun Doo-hwan.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, former GNP Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye, Lee Hoi-chang, chairman of the Liberty Forward Party (LFP), and Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o were turned away from Roh's home. Rep. Chung Dong-young, an independent and the former President's ally, was the only one admitted upon a second attempt to pay his respects.
Tens of thousands of mourners have flocked to a makeshift altar in downtown Seoul to pay their respects, which has kept police on alert.
They have deployed 90 companies to the capital, including 30 around Seoul and Cheonggye Plazas, where candlelit vigils took place last year.
However, police are not trying to provoke the mourners aware that this coup spark demonstrations against President Lee.
Roh's supporters have expressed anger toward the conservative government and politicians for pushing an investigation into the former head of state over a corruption scandal.
Reporters from conservative newspapers, such as Chosun Ilbo, Donga Ilbo and JooanAng Ilbo, are allegedly being denied entry into the village by the supporters.
During his presidency, Roh had a longstanding feud with the conservative dailies, which ended in a lockout from pressrooms in government buildings.