In Memoriam Han Sook Kim (Mrs. Sang Hun Lee)

Paul J. Perry
November 22, 1989

Mrs. Sang Hun Lee

On November 22, 1989 in Seoul, Han Sook Kim, the wife of the President Sang Hun Lee of the Unification Thought Institute of Korea and America, passed on to the spirit world. The Sunghwa Ceremony was held on November 24th in Seoul. The ceremony was attended by a large number of Unification Church members, family and friends, who hold her in great regard, respect and admiration.

Born on December 16, 1914 (lunar calendar), Mrs. Lee was brought up in the Christian faith. She was the second of three daughters; her father was a patriot who fought for the independence of Korea. She graduated from Seoul Teachers College for Women in 1933 and taught public elementary school for five years.

In 1938 she married a young Confucian, Sang Hun Lee, who was then a student at Severance Medical School. Mrs. Lee helped her husband through the completion of medical school and through his career as a medical doctor and director of a hospital.

In 1956 Mrs. Lee, together with her husband, joined the Unification Church.

Won Jeon Ceremony for Mrs. Lee on November 24, 1989.

In 1960 she completed a 40-day training program and started a 40-day pioneer mission. She was blessed in Holy Matrimony to Dr. Sang Hun Lee in 1961 as one of the 36 Blessed Couples. Shortly after that she became a pioneer missionary. In 1962 she built a church and held a big celebration to inaugurate it. In the following year, Mrs. Lee again went on a 40-day pioneer witnessing mission.

In December 1970, Mrs. Lee took part in the mobilization campaign for Blessed Wives and went out on a 3-year witnessing mission. In the following year her husband, Dr. Sang Hun Lee, was appointed Vice President of the International Federation for Victory Over Communism (IFVOC), and the Lee family relocated to Seoul.

In 1973 Mrs. Lee was appointed Itinerary Worker (IW) for the Unification Church of Korea. As late as 1982, she was still participating in mobilization campaigns for Blessed Wives. In 1986 she was elected Vice President of the Women's Association.

On November 22, 1989, Mrs. Lee passed on to the spiritual home in her residence in Seoul, at the age of 74.

One of the participants in Mrs. Lee's Sunghwa Ceremony, Mr. Akifumi Otani, expressed his precious memories about her. Mr. Otani, a graduate from Tokyo University and Vice President of the Unification Thought Institute of Japan, is a long-time special assistant to Dr. Lee and a close friend of the Lee family. In his frequent trips to Korea, Mr. Otani had come to know the Lees well.

Dr. and Mrs. Lee in America in 1984

In his testimony, Mr. Otani characterized Mrs. Lee as "a person of love and service, a living example of an ideal wife who contributed to the success of her husband's mission behind the scenes." He also said that, since Dr. Lee devoted so much of his time to his mission, Mrs. Lee very rarely had an opportunity to go out with him -- as other wives customarily do. In fact, Mr. Otani recalls one time when Mrs. Lee took time off to join the staff members of the Unification Thought Institute on an outing to the movies. That happened after a very successful seminar on Unification Thought. Mrs. Lee said then that she had no memory of ever going to a movie with her husband, Dr. Lee. But she never lost her sense of humor through all that. For instance, since Dr. Lee had the habit of leaving home very early in the morning and coming home late at night, Mrs. Lee once said that sometimes he was more like a guest in his own house, coming home just to sleep. And yet, quietly and behind the scenes, she continued to be a great spiritual support to her husband.

Before joining the Unification Church, the Lees had three children, two sons and a daughter, all of whom reside in Korea. The oldest son has a doctorate in architecture and is a professor at a university, the second son is a company employee, and the youngest daughter is a high school teacher, specializing in the German language. The second son and youngest daughter were blessed in the 1800 Couples Blessing. Mrs. Lee is also survived by her elder sister, who led her to meet the Unification Church.

Mrs. Lee visited America in 1984, accompanying her husband, who was the Honorary Chairman of the ICUS Committee on Unification Thought. Mr. Otani recalls how happy Mrs. Lee was -- not just because she was coming to America for the first time, but most importantly because she was finally having a chance to share precious moments with her husband.

As Dr. and Mrs. David Kim, trinity mates to the Lees, recall Mrs. Lee as the eldest 36 Blessed Couple wife who was always a good example and pioneer for the younger 36 Blessed Couples wives.

Indeed, Mrs. Lee followed the thorny path of the 36 Blessed Couples, many times leaving home to participate in campaigns to save the nation and the world. Her life, like that of many of our elder brothers and sisters, is a shining example of dedication to Father's work of world restoration. She is an inspiration to us all, and we rejoice in her glorious Ascension.