Unbo, giant Korean painter, dies

Kim Ki-Chang, one of Korea¡¯s greatest painters, died Tuesday morning at his home in North Chungchong Province. He was 88.

Although he lost his hearing at age seven, Kim, whose pen name was Unbo, was one of Korea¡¯s leading painters for 60 years. He was praised for opening new horizons in Korean painting by combining traditional and modern techniques.

He leaves a son Wan, 52, daughters Hyun, 53, and Sun, 48, both of whom live in the United States, and Young, 45, a Catholic nun. His younger sister Ki-Ok, 75, a doctor, and brother Ki-Man, 72, a painter, live in North Korea.

Mourners are being received at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul and the ``House of Unbo¡¯¡¯ in Chongwon-gun, North Chungchong Province. The funeral mass, presided over by Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan, will be observed at Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul at 9 a.m. Saturday.

He will be buried beside his late wife Park Rae-Hyun (1921-1976), also a renowned painter, behind the ``House of Unbo¡¯¡¯ at 2 p.m.