By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporters
Foreign delegates and ambassadors to Seoul laid wreaths before an altar for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun during funeral held at the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Friday.
Japan, the United States and Uzbekistan sent a delegation to pay tribute to the late Roh who jumped to his death near his hometown last Saturday amid an investigation into bribery allegations.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda as chief delegate bowed and paid condolence.
U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens also paid tribute with U.S. delegates including Alex Arvizu, deputy assistant secretary on East Asian and Pacific affairs; Michael Green, former senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council (NSC); and Victor Cha, former director for NSC Asian affairs.
Galina Saidova, Uzbekistan's first deputy economy minister, offered a white chrysanthemum.
About 200 people from the foreign diplomatic corps attended the funeral and shared the sadness of Korean mourners.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could not be in Seoul but instead, visited the South Korean Embassy in Washington D.C. to pay tribute to the deceased leader.
She said the United States is grateful for his ``life and leadership'' and looks ``forward to continuing the legacy of a man who gave his all to the service of his country.''
Clinton also signed a condolence book for the man who dedicated himself to democracy and human rights here.