Farmer groups said Friday the body of a South Korean agricultural leader who committed suicide in Cancun, Mexico Wednesday is slated to arrive in Seoul next Thursday for a funeral the following day.

Lee Kyung-hae, former head of the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation (KAFF), stabbed himself in the chest during a rally protesting a World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in the Mexican resort city.

The 56-year-old activist died from loss of blood hours after being rushed to a hospital.

The KAFF, the Korean Farmers League and Via Campesina, a global farmers' group, said their representatives would accompany Lee's body on a flight from this city Monday night.

The groups said they would hold a global farmers' funeral for Lee, but a specific plan will only be determined after consulting with Lee's family.

Meanwhile, a South Korean farmers' delegation said farmer leaders from 23 countries streamed to an altar set up in Lee's honor in this city's central plaza to mourn his passing.

About 10,000 members of worldwide farmer and civic groups are scheduled to hold a protest rally Saturday.

The five-day Cancun meeting began Wednesday, with some 4,700 delegates from 146 nations.