A South Korean far-left group said Monday they would set up memorial altars in Seoul for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, sparking strong criticism from conservatives.

A group made up of ex-convicts of the National Security Law, which bans anti-state activities such as praising the communist country, said that they would set up a makeshift memorial at a Seoul street later in the afternoon to allow South Korean people to pay their respects to the North Korean leader who passed away earlier this month.

“It is right for people in the South to offer condolences on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il,” the group said in a statement. “Since the South Korean government has banned mourners from crossing over into the North, we plan to set up a funeral alter in front of Daehanmun (near Seoul City Hall),” it added.

Police said they plan to block their gathering, since another group -- a conservative one -- has already reported their plan to hold a rally there.

At Seoul National University, the nation’s most prestigious college, a group of students set up a makeshift memorial for the North Korean ruler on campus, which was immediately removed by university staff.

South Korea gave permission to only two groups -- a former South Korean first lady and the chairwoman of Hyundai Group -- to visit North Korea to attend Kim’s funeral in Pyongyang.

Lee Hee-ho, the 90-year-old widow of late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun crossed the heavily fortified border on Monday, each leading a small entourage.

North Korea, while saying it welcomes all mourners, blasted South Korea for blocking its people from paying condolences to their leader. It said the South’s attitude toward condolences would affect future inter-Korean relations.

All trips to North Korea by South Koreans require prior government approval as the Koreas remain technically at war following a cease-fire at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

A South Korean civic activist entered Pyongyang two days ago to pay respect to the North Korean leader, without government approval, a Seoul-based group revealed Monday.

Hwang Hye-ro, a France-based researcher from the leftist Institute of 21st century of Corea Research, departed from Paris on Saturday to fly to Beijing, where she transferred to a North Korean plane heading to Pyongyang, a pro-North Korea group said in a press briefing. It was not known yet if she did pay respect to Kim.

By Lee Sun-young

(milaya@heraldcorp.com)