By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The memorial altar for former President Roh Moo-hyun was set up near his home in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.
Roh's family members and secretaries have decided to do so, even though the area around his house is small to hold a large number of expected mourners, an aide of Roh said Saturday.
How long the memorial period will be before funeral service, and how to hold the funeral has not been decided.
His body was carried to his home in late afternoon from Pusan National University Hospital where he passed away in the morning after falling to death in a mountain at the back of his house.
Roh's son and daughter received condolence callers, but his wife, Kwon Yang-sook who passed out for hours at the hospital after confirming his death, did not show up.
Former and incumbent presidents are usually given state funeral or nationally-sponsored funeral. If the bereaved family refuses, the funeral can be held among family members only.
Among former presidents, Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated while being in the office, was accorded the state funeral; Choi Kyu-ha was given a nationally-sponsored funeral; and Syngman Rhee and Yoon Bo-sun, funerals among family members.
Considering the precedents, a nationally-sponsored funeral is likely for Roh. But it is said that the family wants a family-managed funeral, as he killed himself while being under probe for his alleged bribery acceptance.
Where Roh will be buried has not been determined, either. Former and incumbent presidents can be buried at the national cemetery unless their family refuses.
Roh may be buried at the Deajeon National Cemetery. ``If the family wants, Roh will be laid to rest next to the tomb of former President Choi,'' a Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs official said.
But the family may refuse and follow Roh's will, as written in his suicide note, to cremate his body and bury him near his home.