Thousands give Kim emotional farewell.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Kim So-young BUSAN - Love and forgiveness overwhelmed hate and rage yesterday when the bereaved family and thousands of people bid their last farewells to beheaded Korean hostage Kim Sun-il in his hometown.

"Just like Sun-il who loved you until his death, all of us embrace and love you with his love," his cousin Chang Jin-guk said on behalf of Kim's bereaved family in a message delivered to the world. "And we want to tell you today on Sun-il's behalf, that his very dream was to love you and your nation of Iraq." About 2,000 government officials, politicians and citizens attended Kim's Christian funeral held at Busan Sajik Gymnasium in this southern port city yesterday morning, almost a week after militants in Iraq decapitated Kim following Korea's refusal to keep its troops out of Iraq.

The 33-year-old Arabic translator, who dreamed of doing missionary work in Iraq, was scheduled to visit Korea this month to celebrate his father's 70th birthday. "Your voice still lingers in my ears, when you talked, full of expectations, about traveling with us after you returned to Korea. Why didn't you come yet?" his friend Noh Bo-hye sobbed while reading a poem in memory of Kim. "Even a smile is too much for us, who were unable to do anything before your death." After a week of endless wailing, many of his bereaved family members remained relatively calm and seemed to be trying to go beyond hatred during yesterday's funeral ceremony.

A large placard reading the phrase "I love Iraq" written in Korean, English and Arabic, hanging on the front wall of the gymnasium together with a large photo of ...