Funeral Schedule, Compensation For Bereaved Family Still Undecided

The bereaved family of Kim Sun-il was still in shock and cried, “My beloved Sun-il” on June 27, a day after Kim Sun-il’s remains was laid to rest in Busan Medical Center.

Since Kim’s mortuary was set up on June 23, more than 4,000 condolers have visited. The bereaved family and representatives of the government have begun discussion on the procedure of the funeral and government compensation.

Kim’s remains arrived at Gimhae International Airport on a military airplane and were taken by a black Cadillac, an obituary car prepared by a police honor guard, without any inspection process at around 7:25 p.m. on June 26.

As his casket passed through the streets of downtown of Busan and moved toward Busan Medical Center, many citizens along the street shed tears. About 30 citizens came out to meet Kim’s malignant spirit in front of the district office of Geumjeong-gu, Busan with candles in their hands. Some offered silent prayers holding a placard saying, “May his soul rest in peace.”

When Kim’s remains arrived at Busan Medical Center at around 8:35 p.m. on June 26, his younger and elder sisters, Jung-sook (age 33) and Hyang-lim (age 41) lamented at the top of their voices, saying, “My brother Sun-il, here you came to Busan, the place you used to live. Please open your eyes.”

His father, Kim Jong-kyu (age 69), and mother, Shin Young-ja (age 59), were detained in a resting place made up for the bereaved family by those around them. They couldn’t master their sorrow and choked with sobs.

Articles left by the departed came along with the remains and caused Kim’s family and associates even more pain. The amount of the articles reached 30, including a paper box filled with letters, notes and pictures which Kim had collected, the Bible, a dictionary, an acoustic guitar, his clothing, and music CDs.

The number of mourners increased from June 26 when Kim came back as a cold body. On June 27, even people who had no personal acquaintance with the departed came to pay their respects.

Not including politicians, mourners regardless of age, from young students to old people in their eighties, visited from all over the country and lamented Kim’s death as if it was their own family member’s death.

The funeral of Kim Sun-il had been planned as a family funeral, but a concrete schedule for the funeral has not yet been reached because of the compensation issue.

The government has made its position clear that it promises “the maximum compensation and the highest, honorable treatment” to Kim Sun-il. However, the issue of burying Kim’s remains in the National Cemetery and the question of placing responsibility on the Gana General Trading Co. has become obstacles to the compensation negotiations.

In the negotiation meeting opened in Busan Medical Center from 10:30 a.m. on June 27, security policy manager Choi Jong-man of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs attended as the representative of the government. As a legal advisor of the bereaved family, lawyer Lee Eun-kyung was present. Jang Jin-kook, the administrative deputy mayor Kim Gu-hyun of the city of Busan, and others attended the meeting as representatives of the bereaved family.

Both government and bereaved family parties decided to finish the negotiations on compensation and honorable treatment first, and to discuss the funeral procedures such as the time and place of the funeral later.

In their second meeting at 7 p.m. that day, the representatives of the bereaved family suggested a proposal to the governmental party. Security policy manager Choi said, “we will do our best to satisfy the request of the bereaved family.”

Both parties will have a third meeting on the morning of June 28 to bridge the gap and announce the schedule of the funeral. They are negotiating whether or not to announce the compensation proposition.

On the other hand, the government has decided to pay an indemnity to Kim’s family, allowing this to be a special case, even though there is no provision of compensation in this case.

In addition, it is said that because Gana president Kim Cheon-ho has not returned home yet, the government will pay the compensation responsible for the Gana General Trading Co. first, and claim repayment of the compensation money later.

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