The Words of Young Oon Kim
|
|
The Words of Young Oon Kim |
Mr. Hyo Won Eu passed away at 2:20 pm, July 24, 1970 at 56 years of age. He entered the hospital on October 28, 1969 and underwent an operation on his right hip. This operation was performed three times, and the third operation was successful. However, just before his third operation, his doctor discovered that Mr. Eu had liver cancer, which had probably developed three years before. In spite of desperate prayer of the whole congregation for him, Mr. Eu's health declined steadily after the third operation. Antibiotics had weakened his stomach so that Mr. Eu could not eat well. All of these conditions contributed to the decline of his health.
On July 21 at 1:00 a.m., Mr. Eu was taken from the hospital to a house near the church which belongs to a Family member. He lived three days there in a semi-conscious state, speaking only a few words to his family. He was told that he had cancer only after his arrival at our member's house. Yet, in that short period of time he was able to prepare himself, and spent much effort to say, "My heart will never be changed."
Mr. Eu's funeral took place on July 28 at 10:00 a.m. in the same house. The Association of our church sponsored his funeral, which was attended by Miss Kim and Mr. and Mrs. Kuboki. Delegates from all districts of Korea attended as well as 1,000 mourners dressed in white robes and caps made and used only for that day.
The funeral service was held at 9:00 and all then proceeded to the, cemetery at 10:00. Mr. Jin Won Wang presided over the funeral ceremony. After all sang a hymn, Mrs. Eu burned incense and Young Whi Kim, director of the Administration Department, offered a prayer. Mr. Chin Tae Lee read Mr. Eu's personal history, and Mrs. Yong sang a favorite song of Mr., Eu. Mr. Yo Han Lee gave a short sermon.
Mr. Young Whi Kim as representative of the Korean Congregation and Miss Kim as representative of the Western Family each presented a eulogy. Mr. Kwang Wul Yu read a poem which he composed for Mr. Eu. Won Pi1 Kim offered a prayer. Dr. Lee, author of Communism, a New Critique, as representative of the Korean Family and Mr. Ki as representative of the Japanese Family burned incense. Our Leader offered prayer at 10:00 a.m. from his quarters, as he does not attend funeral services.
The funeral service was impressive. At the front of the funeral procession a police escort guided the mourners to the cemetery.. Mr. Eu's body was carried in a Family vehicle. Three sides were decorated with colorful flowers (red, yellow and white) and the back of the vehicle was covered with green leaves. Following this vehicle were Mr. Eu's close family and friends in several sedans. Eleven city buses which were hired for the occasion carried other members. All together there were 20 vehicles arriving at 2:00 pm.
After a brief ceremony at the grave site, Mr. Eu's body was buried at 4:00 pm. He is survived by three sons and his wife, Kil Ja Eu.
Mr. Young Whi Kim was designated by our Leader to succeed Mr. Hyo Won Eu. Mr. Kim is now 43 years old. He was born in North Korea and graduated from Seoul University in the field of electrical engineering.
From 1946 to 1948, Mr. Kim worked as a translator for the United States Information Office. From 1951 to 1952, he worked as a translator for the United Nations in Korea. In 1953 he served in the Korean Air Force. From 1955 to 1956 he was in the United States under the auspices of the ICA technical training program. From 1955 to 1956 he worked for an electric company in Korea. He joined H. S. A. in April of 1955 before he went to America. He served as Director of Administration of our Association from October 1960 to November 1965.
Then in 1963 he became one of the Board members and from 1965 to 1959 he served as Director of Kyung Gi Province Region of H.S.A. Since June 1967, Mr. Kim has served as Director of the Administration Department and for two months in the summer of 1967 he visited the Japanese Family in Tokyo. Since January 1968 he has been Director of General Affairs of our Anticommunist League. He received a 14-year course prize from the Leader in February 1968. He married Miss Tae Wha Chung in 1960 as one of the first three couples and now has two sons and three daughters.