Bereaved Family Overcome By Loss

News that Kim Sun-il (34) had been murdered was a bolt out of the blue to his family, who choked with sobs, and many Busan citizens were also filled with grief on the morning of June 23.

The Busan medical center in Guhje-dong, Yeonje-gu in Busan, where an altar honoring Kim was placed, was crowded with people expressing their deep regrets at his death, from men of society from diverse fields to ordinary citizens and students who had never even met him.

Seventeen officials from Busan including Huh Nam-sik, the mayor of Busan, held an urgent countermeasures meeting on the afternoon of the same day at a conference room on the 7th floor of City Hall and discussed plans for the stabilization of the district after the murder of Kim.

--Reaction of his family

In Bumil 6-dong, Donggu in Busan, his family members, Kim Jong-kyu (69), father, Shin Young-ja (59), mother, and Kim Jeong-suk (33), his little sister, shrieked “No!” when they saw the TV caption that said Kim has been murdered. His father Kim Jong-kyu cried: “They said Sun-il was alive yesterday. What kind of disaster is this to happen?” and broke down. His little sister, Jeong-suk, shrieked, “Bring back my brother!” and fainted. His family was urgently transferred to the hospital.

Neighbors who were standing by Kim’s family gave vent to their anger at the news of Kim’s death by taking out three Iraqi flags from his house and tearing them to pieces. They also took off placards on which their petitions had been written and threw them to the ground.

The feelings of his family could not be restrained.

His father, Kim Jong-kyu, woke up in the hospital and exclaimed bitterly, “Did the government have to publicly keep announcing its policy of dispatching forces when my son’s life was at stake? The government coped with the situation so poorly and let Sun-il die.”

He also added, “They said that he was alive and might be released. How can it be possible to find him as a corpse in just a few hours? I will question the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” and showed an enraged reaction.

However, his rage soon turned to despair. At 8 in the morning, he returned home after being treated at a nearby hospital and showed his hopelessness by saying, “I begged of them to save my son. My poor son. I’ll soon follow you.”

--The atmosphere at the memorial altar

The memorial altar placed in the Busan medical center in honor of Kim was visited by more than 1,000 mourners who were all heartbroken at his death.

Kim’s family prepared a temporary altar at home at 2:30 in the morning, but at the advice of those present, moved it to the Busan medical center at 10:30 in the morning and started the actual condolence ceremonies.

The family paid their respects at the altar with devastated looks on their faces and Kim’s mother, Shin Young-ja wept powerlessly, “Bring back my son alive.” She fainted again and was sent to infirmary.

In the afternoon, dozens of political leaders of Busan district, from Huh Sung-gwan, the minister of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, to Kim Hyung-oh, the secretary general of The Grand National Party, and Ahn Kyung-ryul and Lee Sung-kwon, both members of parliament, visited the altar and expressed their condolences.

Also, president Roh Moo-hyun, Kim Won-ki, the speaker of the National Assembly, Shin Gi-nam, the chairman of Open Uri Party and Park Geun-hye, the chairwoman of the Grand National Party sent floral tributes.

Park Kyung-moon, the dean of Kyunsung university from where Kim graduated, visited the altar together with faculty and students, and the general student council set up an incense burning room inside the campus.

Ordinary citizens followed the wave of condolences. Kim Byung-man (43, commercial businessman) said, “I am not acquainted with Kim Sun-il, but I visited to express my condolences because it felt too bitter just to sit and watch TV at home.”

Sister Rumine (63), who is a German nun running a nursery school “Our Home” near Kim’s house in Bumil 6-dong, also visited the altar and prayed, consoling Kim’s family.

Dong-Bin Seok Yong-Hwi Jo mobidic@donga.com silent@donga.com