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Seoul to hold state funeral for late Kim
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-19 19:45

SEOUL: The South Korean government decided on Wednesday to hold its second-ever state funeral for late President Kim Dae-jung, almost 20 years after the first state funeral given to later President Park Jung-hui in 1979.

According to the decision approved at a special Cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, the state funeral for the late Kim will take place at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) on August 23, after a six-day mourning period.

The funeral is to take place at the National Assembly Plaza on Yeouido, central Seoul, while the burial place is chosen to be the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, southern Seoul.

Although a state funeral is stated to be preceded by a nine-day mourning period, Kim's will be shortened to six days, according to the council.