A man pays tribute in front of a portrait of former South Korean President Kim Young-Sam displayed at a memorial in Seoul on Nov 23, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

SEOUL - Former South Korean President Kim Young-sam passed away Sunday, aged 88.

Kim, who had been hospitalized with fever since Thursday, died at 0:22 am local time, according to Seoul National University Hospital.

Kim was born on Dec 20, 1927 on Koje Island off the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. In 1992, Kim became the head of the new ruling party and was elected president, five years after his first unsuccessful presidential bid.