FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT ROH AND

UNCLAS SEOUL 000823 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KS SUBJECT: FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT ROH AND REACTION TO HIS DEATH ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Former President Roh's funeral will be held in Seoul on May 29 or 30. Most embassies we spoke to are planning to send delegations headed by their respective ambassadors. Roh's death has evoked an outpouring of public support, and, in some quarters, anger at President Lee's administration for having pursued with excess zeal Roh's prosecution for bribery. END SUMMARY. -------------- Funeral Arrangements -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Despite earlier reports that President Roh's funeral would be held on Friday, May 29 in Gimhae, near Busan, a source at the Ministry of Government Administration and Security confirmed that President Roh's family had requested to change the venue to Gyeongbok Palace, adjacent to the Blue House, in Seoul. While it is likely the funeral will take place in Seoul, it has not been determined whether it will be held on the 29th or 30th. ¶3. (SBU) In consultation with Roh's family, the government is preparing a "citizen's funeral" for the former president. A citizen's funeral is an honor reserved for former presidents and other citizens who have made significant contributions to Korea. A citizen's funeral is only superseded by a "state funeral" in terms of protocol; a state funeral is reserved for a sitting president. There has been only one state funeral in Korea's modern history, for President Park Chung-hee who was assassinated in office in ¶1979. Two deceased presidents who preceded Park, Lee Seung-man and Yoon Bo-sun, both had family funerals, at the request of the families concerned. Choi Kyu-ha, who served briefly following Park's death, was the only other president to be honored with a citizen's funeral. ¶4. (SBU) On May 25, to pay respect to President Roh, Ambassador Stephens went to the National History Museum, one of the designated memorial sites. Among the hundreds of Korean citizens, including former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and current Minister of Unification Hyun In-taek, the Ambassador was one of fifteen ambassadors to pay respects at the memorial today. -------------- Foreign Delegations -------------- ¶5. (SBU) As of May 25 COB, there is no confirmation of foreign delegations coming for President Roh's funeral and the ROKG has not issued any protocol guidance. Embassies we spoke to have either decided that their respective Ambassadors will head their delegation of are awaiting confirmation from capitals. -- The Australian embassy was planning for its Ambassador to head its delegation. -- The Canadian embassy recommended that its Ambassador head the delegation and is awaiting confirmation from Ottawa. -- The Chinese embassy said it was awaiting a decision from Beijing as to whether there would be a official delegation from Beijing or whether the Ambassador would head the delegation. -- The Japanese embassy said there was a "high possibility" that a delegation from Tokyo would come, but nothing definite so far. The Prime Minister would decide the composition of a delegation, but it would likely be "senior politicians" from the Diet. -- The New Zealand embassy said its Ambassador would head its delegation. -- The Russian embassy was awaiting confirmation from Moscow on whether a delegation would be coming and could not speculate on the outcome of the decision. -- The UK embassy said a delegation from London was highly unlikely, but a final decision depended on ROKG protocol guidance. -------------- Regional Reactions -------------- ¶6. (U) Korea's Six-Party Talks partners, including North Korea, expressed condolences. -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il expressed "profound condolences to widow Kwon Ryang-suk and (Roh's) bereaved family." -- China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, "We bemoan the unfortunate death of Mr. Roh Moo-hyun and express our deep condolences to his family." -- Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Saturday he was "quite surprised" by the news and said he would like to "pray for the repose of (Roh's) soul." We understand from our Japanese colleagues that the Japanese Ambassador will convey a condolence message from Prime Minister Aso to President Lee. -------------- Atmospherics -------------- ¶7. (SBU) President Lee Myung-bak on Saturday expressed deep regret over the sudden death of his predecessor, calling the incident "a national tragedy." There has been an outpouring of public sympathy and support for Roh, not surprising given the respect Koreans accord to the deceased and Roh's fervent following among the progressive and the young. Thousands turned out in Bongha Village, home to the Rohs, to pay their respects to former President Roh during the first full day of remembrance on May 24. Generally, the mood was subdued, as hundreds stood in long lines together somberly and patiently. Although lines were long, they were efficiently organized and controlled. Particularly interesting was the lack of special treatment for VIP visitors, who had to make the 10-minute walk into the village with hundreds of others. Also noteworthy was that the crowd did not allow Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and several GNP politicians, including Park Geun-hye and National Assembly Speaker Kim Young-O, to pay respect to the deceased. There is clearly anger among the Roh Moo-hyun supporters, many of them blaming the ROK prosecutors for having driven their former leader to complete exhaustion, despondency and death. ¶8. (SBU) It is, of course, much too early to tell whether this level of sympathy and anger will have lasting effects on Korean politics and on President Lee's ability to govern. So far, President Lee has responded with a soft touch, giving all respect to the deceased and the Roh family. Also helpful is the soft touch of the Korean National Police (KNP),who are deployed in enormous numbers, but responding gently to several large memorial gatherings; we understand that the KNP has been ordered not to resort to use of force under any circumstances. Most helpful of all was the news that North Korea had tested a nuclear device on May 25. Now, Roh's death is no longer the only news. More than that, Lee's brand of conservative policies toward the North appears to compare favorably with Roh's Sunshine Policy. STEPHENS