Farewell to champion of democracy

Cars carrying the photo and remains of the deceased former President Kim Young-sam pass Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Thursday. After the funeral ceremony at the National Assembly, Kim was buried at the Seoul National Cemetery. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Former president buried at Seoul National Cemetery

By Jhoo Dong-chan

People bade their farewell to former President Kim Young-sam at a state funeral for the democracy advocate, Thursday.

Some 10,000 participated in the funeral service at the National Assembly in Yeouido, southern Seoul, Thursday, including ad-hoc funeral committee members, government officials, diplomats and citizens.

President Park Geun-hye did not take part in the service due to health problems, but she visited the memorial altar at Seoul National University Hospital prior to the ceremony.

Former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were absent as well.

The funeral car carrying Kim’s body and cortege departed from the hospital at 1:25 p.m. and arrived at the Assembly, where Kim served nine terms, at around 2 p.m.

President Kim Young-sam’s second son, Kim Hyun-chul, left, cries as a video of the late president is shown at his funeral at the National Assembly, Thursday. Seated on his left are first son Kim Eun-chul and former first lady Son Myung-soon.

Kim’s eldest grandson, Sung-min, led the procession carrying a portrait of his deceased grandfather. Tens of thousands of people in the streets watched the late Kim’s departure through a lightly falling snow.

The funeral started with a salute to the national flag and a moment of silence to the late Kim, announced by Kim Dong-gun.

Interior Minister Chong Jong-sup then introduced the former President’s life story and achievements.

Prime Minster Hwang Kyo-ahn, who served as head of the ad-hoc committee also delivered a speech. “This is a great loss for Korea. Kim laid the foundation stone for the nation’s democracy,” he said.

He said that Kim devoted his life to realizing a more transparent and liberal country throughout his political career. “It is our role to make a peaceful, liberal and prosperous country as he wished. Koreans will not forget his dedication to the country and its people.”

The funeral ceremony also included a Christian ritual, as Kim was a Protestant. Other religious groups such as Buddhists and Catholics prayed for the late Kim as well.

At the end of the service, world-famous baritone Choi Hyun-soo sang the late Kim’s favorite song, “Cheongsane Sallira” (I’ll Live on a Blue Mountain).

The cortege then departed the Assembly for Seoul National Cemetery for the burial. The funeral procession visited his home in Sangdo-dong where he lived for 46 years, and the nearby Kim Young-sam Memorial Library which will be completed next year. Tens of thousands of Koreans have visited altars across the nation over the five-day memorial period to pay their respects.

Kim’s death, following the 2009 death of his successor, President Kim Dae-jung, marks the end of the “two Kims era.” Both were champions of democracy who opposed military rule in South Korea.

Spending almost 30 years as Korea’s opposition leader against authoritarian regimes from 1961, Kim was elected President in 1992, serving five years from 1993 to 1998.

He started an anti-corruption campaign requiring high-profile governmental and military officials to make public their assets. Former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were arrested on charges of corruption and treason in the process.

Unfortunately, at the end of his presidential term, Kim was criticized for mismanaging the nation’s economy and causing the financial crisis of 1997.

The coffin holding the body of the late former President Kim Young-sam is lowered into his grave at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap