The South Korean government said on Tuesday that it confirmed the funeral of former President Roh Moo-hyun to be held at Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on Friday.

Roh's funeral will be held on Friday morning at Seoul's landmark ancient palace, open to the public, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Roh's family on Monday asked the government to hold the funeral of the late president in Seoul, instead of his hometown in the country's southeast.

"We concluded that it was appropriate to hold the service in Seoul so that as many people as possible may come to the funeral," said Cheon Ho-sun, a spokesman for Roh's family.

A portrait of deceased former President Roh Moo-hyun is seen as people mourn during a memorial service at Roh's hometown Bonghwa village in Gimhae, about 450 km (280 miles) southeast of Seoul, May 25, 2009
Roh's family on Sunday agreed on a "people's funeral" instead of a private service, following a seven-day mourning period, which was expected to take place in the ex-president's hometown, Bongha Village.

Kwon Yang-sook, wife of deceased former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, arrives on a wheelchair to attend the rites of placing the body of the late President into a coffin in his hometown in Bonghwa village, Gimhae, about 450 km (280 miles) southeast of Seoul, early May 25, 2009
After the funeral service, Roh will be cremated and buried nearhis residence in Bongha Village, according to Cheon.

Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun was found dead on Saturday after falling down a mountain amid an investigation into a bribery scandal he and his family were involved in.

More than 13,000 mourners have made the pilgrimage to the ex-president's hometown Bongha.