Politicians and families paid tribute Tuesday to the late President Kim Dae-jung as they marked the sixth death anniversary of the former pro-democracy champion under the country's authoritarian governments.

Kim, a liberal icon, was a vocal critic of the 1961-79 authoritarian rule of former President Park Chung-hee -- the father of current President Park Geun-hye -- and almost lost his life while protesting against the regime.

While serving as president from 1998 to 2003, he held the first-ever inter-Korean summit with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 and won the Nobel Peace Prize later that year in recognition of his efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang.

He died of complications from pneumonia in 2009 at the age of 85.

"(Kim) was a big leader who democratized our country with a firm will," Kim Moo-sung, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, said in a speech at a memorial service at the Seoul National Cemetery.

Moon Jae-in, head of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said, "Our country's history will record former President Kim as the president who opened a door to reunification." (Yonhap)