A South Korean woman attends the state funeral for the late former President Kim Dae-jung at the National Assembly in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Aug. 23, 2009. South Koreans bid farewell to Kim Dae-jung at the state funeral on Sunday afternoon. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) Photo Gallery>>>

    by Na Haejung

    SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korans bid farewell to ex-President Kim Dae-jung at a state funeral held at the National Assembly Sunday.

    SECOND-EVER "STATE FUNERAL"

    The service, starting at 02:00 p.m. (0500 GMT), marks the second "state funeral" held in the nation, following that of former President Park Chung-hee.

    A state funeral is the highest form of tributes given in the nation, for which the government covers the full expense.

    Some 30,000 people gathered at the nation's parliament to attend the service, the largest crowd ever, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

    Among the attendants were South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, First Lady Kim Yoon-ok, and former President Kim Young-sam, as well as politicians and foreign delegates.

    The funeral service started as the funeral car proceeded into the funeral site at around 01:50 p.m. (0450 GMT).

    Giving an eulogy, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo praised the late president, calling him "a great leader of modern history, recognized not only within (South) Korea but by the world."

    The service lasted about an hour after various ceremonies, including memorial addresses and religious rituals, were given to commemorate the late president.

    After the hour-long funeral service, the motorcade carrying the coffin of the late president headed for the Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul, the place where Kim's body was scheduled to be laid.

    On Kim's final route, the funeral car made short stop-overs at Kim's private home in Donggyo-dong, western Seoul, and the Seoul Plaza in front of the Seoul City Hall.

    South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP), meanwhile, prepared for a cultural event at the Seoul Plaza to commemorate the late president, for which the funeral parade was halted briefly.

    Former First Lady Lee Hee-ho expressed gratitude to the people at the plaza, urging them to secure reconciliation and peace as the late president emphasized.

    The motor car carried on to its final destination, arriving at the National Cemetery at around 05:00 p.m. (1700 GMT).

    After one-hour burial ceremony, the body was laid close to his predecessors, Park Chung-hee and Rhee Seung-man, for good.

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