A sea of mourners filled the streets of the South Korean capital Seoul on Friday for the funeral of ex-President Roh Moo-hyun, whose suicide six days ago plunged the country into grief and anger.
Shin Kyung-ja is one of the mourners.
"I am really upset because the person I most respected and loved among all the other former South Korean presidents has died tragically."(www.hXen.com)
The funeral procession began at dawn in Roh's hometown. Some 3000 mourners were invited to the formal ceremony in the courtyard of the 14th-century Gyeongbok Palace in the heart of ancient Seoul.
Former Prime Minister, Han Myeong-sook, was among the mourning officials.
"We thought his last wish, to go back to the dreaming, natural person he used to be in his childhood, would come true. Nothing like this has ever happened before. The cruel world has taken the last opportunity for him to live like a human Roh Moo-hyun."
Roh's body was to be cremated, according to his wishes, before being returned to his home village.
