Funeral Service for Roh to Be Held in Seoul

The venue for the public funeral service for former President Roh Moo-hyun, who died Saturday, has been changed from Jinyeong Public Stadium in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province to the front of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul.

In a press briefing Monday, former Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Cheon Ho-seon, speaking on behalf of Roh's family, said Jinyeong Public Stadium was the first choice for the funeral service because Roh retired to his hometown nearby, "but we've concluded that it is better to hold the funeral service in Seoul so that as many people as possible can attend without much difficulty."

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security on Monday afternoon said the service will be held in front of Gyeongbok Palace, respecting the family's wishes, but that his body will be laid to rest at Bongha Village, his hometown in Gimhae.

Meanwhile, mourners have been visiting official altars set up at various locations including Seoul Station Plaza, Seoul Museum of History and local government buildings. Some 77 such official altars had been set up across the country as of Monday afternoon.

Gimhae District Office estimated that as of Monday afternoon, about 300,000 mourners had visited Bongha Village. Police said some 30,000 mourners had visited a makeshift altar set up near the front gate of Deoksu Palace in Seoul.