By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
From senior politicians to ordinary citizens, a stream of mourners paid their respects to the late former President Kim Dae-jung at altars across the nation Wednesday.
Senior citizens who witnessed his turbulent life as well as young people and children holding hands with parents were among those who flocked to the altars from early in the morning to mourn the loss of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Rep. Park Ji-won, chief secretary for President Kim, welcomed their visits on behalf of the bereaved family, at Severance Hospital in northern Seoul throughout the day.
Former President Chun Doo-hwan, head of a military junta in the 1980s who persecuted Kim for his efforts on democracy, visited the mortuary. Some mourners yelled at him and clashed with his bodyguards to keep him at bay. Chun briefly visited the scene and left without speaking to journalists.
About 9,000 people have visited the hospital to pay respects to Kim since his death Tuesday. Many diplomats from Japan, France, the United States, Spain, Norway and Italy also joined in the mourning Wednesday.
A stream of lawmakers from the governing Grand National Party and opposition parties visited the hospital. Among other visitors was Lee Hee-ah, a young pianist with only four fingers, who first met the late Kim back in 1999.
"I was shocked after learning about his death," Lee said sobbing on a wheelchair. "He paid great attention to the disabled. When I was invited to Chung Wa Dae for a luncheon in 2000, he warmly grabbed my hands and said 'do your best and become a great pianist.' I will never forget the moment." Lee said she hopes he continues working in heaven to help improve democracy in the country.
Mourning for Kim is turning into a place not only for east-west harmony and reconciliation but also for north-south thaw. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will dispatch five deputies to Seoul for the funeral. Lawmakers and activists of both conservative and progressive parties and NGOs are also paying final tributes to Kim.
A foreign resident in Seoul said, "I believed Kim Dae-jung was more popular abroad than in Korea while he was alive. But after his death, Kim appears to be equally popular both here and abroad."
A huge altar was installed in Seoul Plaza Wednesday. Unlike the case of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun three months ago, the government opened the space in central Seoul to the public.
Kim's huge portrait was surrounded by hundreds of white chrysanthemums. Songs about reunification blared from speakers. Despite sizzling weather, numerous citizens, students, and children formed a queue to pay respect to the late Kim.
"I was happy because of you. Rest in peace DJ," Kang Youl-ri wrote in a farewell note on a piece of paper provided by Seoul city and Kim's political stronghold, the Democratic Party. "As you have wished, the divided country will become one in the future. I will pray for that," Jeon Ki-jong wrote.
Moon Ja-young, a banker in central Seoul, visited the altar with her colleagues after lunch. "I have respected him so far for his dedication to improving democracy and inter-Korean relations," Moon said.
Kim's hometown, an island in South Jeolla Province, was under even deeper sadness than elsewhere. It takes at least one hour by ferry to get to the island, but all vessels were packed with Kim's followers who ventured out to visit the house of his birth.
Jang Il-woong, 69, who has maintained the house for a decade, cried over his death. "He was our hero," Jang said.
Even in the cyber world, a flood of condolences are being posted.