| News: Thousands bid emotional farewell to Kim |
BUSAN - Love and forgiveness overwhelmed hate and rage yesterday when the bereaved family of murdered Korean hostage Kim Sun-il and thousands of people bid their last farewells in his hometown.
"Just like Sun-il who loved you until his death, all of us embrace and love you with his love," Kim's cousin Chang Jin-guk said in a message to the world on behalf of the grieving family. "And, we want to tell you today on Sun-il's behalf, that his very dream was to love you and your nation of Iraq."
About 2,000 government officials, politicians and citizens attended Kim's Christian funeral at the Busan Sajik Gymnasium in this southern port city yesterday, just over a week after militants in Iraq decapitated Kim following Korea's refusal to keep its troops out of Iraq.
The 33-year-old Arabic translator, who dreamed of doing missionary work in Iraq, had been scheduled to visit Korea this month to help celebrate his father's 70th birthday.
FUNERAL CEREMONY OF KIM SUN-IL - Police honor guards carry the coffin of murdered Korean hostage Kim Sun-il during his funeral ceremony in a Busan gymnasium yesterday. [The Korea Herald]
Instead, he came home Saturday in a coffin and, after the funeral, was buried in Busan's Youngnak Cemetery Park.
"Your voice still lingers in my ears, when you talked, full of expectations, about traveling with us after you returned to Korea. Why didn't you come yet?" his friend Noh Bo-hye sobbed, while reading a poem in memory of Kim at the funeral service. "Even a smile is too much for us, who were unable to do anything before your death."
After a week of endless wailing, many of Kim's family remained relatively calm and seemed to be trying to advance beyond hatred during the funeral ceremony.
A large placard reading "I love Iraq," written in Korean, English and Arabic and draped on the front wall of the gymnasium, together with a large photo of Kim, reflected the atmosphere of compassion.
In front of their son's coffin covered with white chrysanthemums, his father Kim Jong-kyu and mother Shin Young-ja sobbed silently, with their eyes closed.
Kim's three sisters buried their faces in handkerchiefs and wept throughout the funeral.
Sisters of Kim Sun-il, killed by militants in Iraq, react during the funeral ceremony in Busan yesterday. [The Korea Herald]
Kim was killed last Tuesday, three weeks after he was kidnapped May 31 in Iraq. Militants gave Seoul 24 hours to withdraw its 660 medics and engineers already there and cancel plans to send an additional 3,000 troops, then beheaded him after the deadline expired and their demand was rejected.
The funeral's theme conveyed the message of love and peace, not only to Iraqis but to mourners at the ceremony.
College student Lee Hye-won said, "Like many other people, I cried a lot for Kim. It was really heart-wrenching. But after seeing this funeral, I think not hatred and revenge, but love and reconciliation are needed."
Lee Jin-ho, 57, wished peace would prevail around the world. "I can't say how sorry I am for the tragedy. This kind of thing must not happen again," he said.
Asked about the planned troop deployment, he said he had always opposed the government plan.
Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Society Moon Jae-in, Vice Foreign Minister Choi Young-jin and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties came to Busan for the funeral.
Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik delivered his condolences, pledging to cherish Kim's commitment to become a bridge between Korea and Iraq.
(soyoung@heraldm.com)
By Kim So-young
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