The late President Kim Young-sam who passed away Sunday will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Thursday.

An iconic figure of the country’s pro-democracy movement who served as president from 1993-1998, Kim’s life was remembered and celebrated throughout the five-day mourning period. His comrades, former foes and fellow politicians all kept vigil at his wake and tens of thousands of citizens paid their last respects to the man at altars set up throughout the country.

A nine-term legislator, Kim is respected for leading the pro-democracy movement during the dark, oppressive days of authoritarian rule. The valiant, decades-long struggle put up by Kim and his fellow pro-democracy fighters culminated in the first direct presidential election since the 1972 Yushin regime imposed by late President Park Chung-hee — a military strong man who came to power in a military coup in 1961. Kim fought for democracy both within the National Assembly walls and outside on the streets, when necessary. Although the last year of his presidency was marred by the Asian financial crisis that brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy, no one can dispute his contribution to the cause of democracy.

The funeral committee headed by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has a total of 2,222 members. The state funeral in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido will be a grand affair with more than 10,000 people expected to attend.

The Interior Ministry which is in charge of state funerals said the funeral would be an opportunity for the country to reconcile and come together. One funeral committee member who fought for democracy alongside Kim also said that the late president’s family wished for the occasion to be an opportunity to eradicate regionalism, stressing that democracy transcends time and place.

Indeed, leading politicians who fought for democracy alongside Kim, regardless of where they stand today, are taking part in the funeral committee, as are Kim’s close aides who helped him carry out swift reforms aimed at bolstering democracy.

In the days following his death, politicians of varying colors and stripes came to the wake. Unfortunately, what should have been a time for quiet reflection often turned into an opportunity for politicking in front of reporters and cameramen who were there to report on the event.

Ruling Saenuri Party chairman Kim Moo-sung, who started his political career under the late Kim’s tutelage, claimed himself as “YS’ political son” — using the popular acronym that referred to the former president. Yet another high-ranking Saenuri Party legislator claimed him as his “political godfather.” A senior legislator from the majority opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy denounced such claims, saying that they merely wanted to inherit the late Kim’s legacy without attempting to continue his work.

Such political squabbles dishonor the memory of the man who struggled to bring about democracy and who, as president, introduced much needed reforms and set about righting history. A wake is hardly a place to make political claims, network, or talk to the media on what could be politically sensitive issues.

Thursday’s funeral should be a solemn occasion when people remember the late Kim, with all his accomplishments and his failures. Only then can we make progress and honor his legacy by achieving a more mature democracy, to which he had dedicated his life.