Funeral of Late Dong-A Ilbo Chairman

The funeral of former Chairman of the Dong-A Ilbo Kim Byung-kwan was held Feb. 28.

The hearse left Korea University Anam Hospital at 6:40 a.m., and an honoring ceremony was held at Kim’s home in Gahoi-dong, Seoul, at 7 a.m.

After having passed by JoongAng High School, the Dong-A Ilbo, Korea University that Kim had cherished, the coffin was put in HwaJeong Gymnasium of Korea University for the funeral ceremony and was buried in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province at 1 p.m.

Some 1,000 people including the late chairman’s family attended the funeral, which proceeded for 80 minutes in order of a silent prayer, Kim’s history, a memorial address, songs for the dead, words of the family representative, a video show about Kim, incense burning and a floral tribute.

Dong-A Ilbo President Kim Hak-joon said in his words of condolence, “As a publisher, he protected his reporters against the threats and appease of the authoritative government in the past, when reporters disclosed the Park Jong-cheol incident. We’re deeply saddened by the loss of him who had been a strong support at a time when the conditions surrounding the media are turbulent due to the convergence of newspapers, broadcast and communications.”

Korea University President Lee Ki-su said, “He had not only taken the role of helping Korean democracy take root and the Korean media progress, but also left great legacies such as developing folk art and culture including the traditional Korean music, advancing and modernizing Korea’s higher education.”

Former National Assembly Speaker Park Gwan-yong, who spoke at the funeral on behalf of Kim’s friends, said, “He was a person who firmly blocked any influence on the Dong-A Ilbo from those who wanted to using their personal relationship with him. I hope that he would relish a true free life from now on.”

Japanese Asahi Shimbun’s executive adviser Shinichi Hakoshima also attended the funeral and said, “His death, which happened to be on the same date of the new president’s inauguration and the Korea-Japan summit meeting, seems to deliver the message that the media should play a key role in the reconciliation and cooperation of both countries.”

Intangible cultural asset holder Ahn Sook-sun sang a song honoring the death of the late chairman. When she sang the part, “No, no…” in her sorrowful voice, many attendants were saddened by the loss and wiped tears with their handkerchiefs.

phark@donga.com kplee@donga.com