Rival parties and political heavyweights expressed condolences over the death of former President Kim Young-sam on Sunday for his lifelong achievement that helped establish the country's democratization.
  

Kim, who served as president from 1993-1998, died at Seoul National University Hospital, earlier in the day. He was 88.
  

"It is such a big shock and sadness," said Kim Moo-sung, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, noting that he still remembers days of fighting for democracy along with Kim.
  

Chairman Kim further praised the former president, a pro-democracy activist who ended more than three decades of military rule through the presidency, for being his political godfather.
  

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy also mourned the death of the former president.
  

"(Kim Young-sam) is like the root of our party along with former President Kim Dae-jung," said Kim Sung-soo, spokesman of the NPAD, adding that senior party members, including Chairman Moon Jae-in, will visit a funeral parlor later in the day.
  

Former President Lee Myung-bak also said that Kim will be forever remembered as a leading figure in the pro-democracy movement.
  

"Kim will be recorded in our history as a figure leading the democracy of the Republic of Korea," Lee said in a press release.
  

Kim is the second of the "three Kims," who dominated the nation's political landscape for decades, to pass away.
  

The term refers to Kim Young-sam, as well as late former President Kim Dae-jung and former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil, who as leaders of rival parties alternately clashed or formed alliances as political need and personal ambition dictated.
  

Former PM Kim also visited the former President Kim's funeral parlor, saying that the former president's lifelong achievement will be remembered by the people.
  

"(Kim Young-sam) was the leader of belief who will be forever remembered by the people," the former PM told reporters.
 

While Kim Young-sam was strongly backed by the southeastern region, Kim Dae-jung enjoyed support from the southwestern region and Kim Jong-pil received support from the central Chungcheong region. (Yonhap)