By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Former President Kim Dae-jung died of acute respiratory failure and multiple organ failure brought on by pneumonia.
"Kim passed away at 1:43 p.m. as his heart stopped during multiple organ failure," said Park Chang-il, head of Yonsei Severance Hospital in Seoul, Tuesday.
"He was hospitalized on July 13 for pneumonia. But his condition worsened through acute respiratory failure and pulmonary infarction. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was meaningless at that time as it would not lengthen his life, so we let him go," he said, expressing his condolences.
Even before suffering from the infirmity, the late President had physical difficulties during his decades-long struggle for democracy.
On May 24 in 1971, he was in a traffic accident when he was campaigning for a National Assembly seat in Muan, South Jeolla Province. Suspicions were that then-Park Chung-hee administration attempted to kill his political opponent through the "accident."
He survived, but his left hip was injured, leaving him with a limp for the rest of his life.
Kim's health was further weakened while undergoing more than five years of imprisonment during the dictatorial regimes, three years of exile in Japan, and six and half years of house arrest.
After becoming the President, he was hospitalized in April 2002 term due to fatigue and stomach trouble. In 2003 after leaving the post, he underwent surgery to expand a coronary artery, and has had kidney dialysis treatment three times a week.
He was hospitalized twice in 2005 for pulmonary edema and has often received medical treatment.
In the meantime, the government is discussing the funeral service procedure for the former head of state with his bereaved family.
According to law, a state funeral or a public funeral is given to a former or incumbent President, unless the bereaved family opposes it.
Among former presidents, Park, who was assassinated while still in office in 1979, was given a state funeral; Choi Kyu-ha and Roh Moo-hyun, public ones; and Syngman Rhee and Yoon Bo-sun, private services.
The memorial period in a public funeral is up to seven days following death, and the government pays part of the expenses. In a state funeral, the memorial period is nine days, with the government footing all expenses.
Kim's funeral may be held in public following precedents, but a state one is also possible considering his achievement for democracy and improvement in North-South relations.