A Letter from the Son of the South Korean Man Killed, Burnt by North Korea on September 22, 2020: Restore My Father’s Honor

2020-10-6, the Son of the Man Killed by North Korea [TRANSLATION of the son’s letter]

Dear Mr. President [Moon Jae-in],

How are you, Mr. President?

I’m the son of the government employee, who was treated unfairly and suffered being shot by the North Korean military [after reported missing near] Yeonpyeong Island.  I’m currently a junior in high school and my younger sister is 8 years old [Korean age, so likely 7 years old] and is in first grade in an elementary school. 

We [my father and I] communicated like we did any other day, and he also talked with my sister by video chat, telling her he will return in a few days.  Such was the situation, and suddenly, he was missing.  The mass media broadcasters and newspapers even began to disseminate unconfirmed stories everyday.  As a result, my sister, who doesn’t know what is going on, my mother, and I suffer through everyday.  Who has the qualification to ruin the head of a family overnight like this?

My father began the civil service late in life, and in order to not fall behind, he worked extra hard.  He had a strong pride in his job, even coming to my school to tell us about his work.  He received numerous awards.  I personally witnessed my father receiving the West Sea Fisheries Management Service Award, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Award, and Korea Coast Guard Central Region chief’s award for saving lives.  It motivated me to also become a civil servant and I am currently preparing for a civil service career, and my father knows this better than anyone.

Because of his deployment, he could come home only twice a month.  Despite this, to us, he was a family man more so than anyone else, and he adored my sister, who was born relatively late in his life.  

My dad never learned to swim properly.  He was a thin man–despite his 180 cm [5 ft 11 inches] height, he weighed only 68 kg [150 lbs].  I ask whether it makes sense for people to think that he actually swam 38 km [23.6 miles], especially against the current.

It is strange that the North Korean military knew my dad’s personal information that only my dad would have known.  Is there really anyone who would not give answers when the North Korean military asks about personally identifiable information, such as name and place of birth, at gun points?  When fearing for life, I believe most people will do what they can to survive.  But this too is just an announcement by the government [the government stated the man defected to North Korea], and my family has not seen any evidence, so we cannot believe such an announcement.  I can’t even acknowledge that the man discovered in the waters in the northern side is my dad, but the government insists that unconvincing reasons are evidence.

I’d like to ask the president:  If the agony we suffer is suffered by your children or grandchildren, can you conduct yourself as you do [say] now?

Why did my dad end up there?  What has the [government] done to try to save my dad’s life?  Why was my dad not saved?  These are what I’d like to ask.  Please correct the current situation that is destroying my sister and me, who must live on.

He was an ordinary person, who headed a family, and was a son of parents, who have Alzheimer’s disease and have no idea what happened to their son.  He [the son’s father] had pride in his profession.  I also saw his patriotism, when he attended the events of the 8.15 Liberation/Independence Day and the 3.1 Independence Movement Day.  I recall seeing my dad buying persimmons from a store and giving them to an elderly woman, who he didn’t know, who was sitting on the street sidewalk.  Although I didn’t express it then, I respect my dad’s warm heart.

My little sister thinks our dad is abroad on a business trip.  Our dad told her he would return in a few days with a gift, so she waits for our dad, going to sleep every night while holding our dad’s picture.  As we watch my sister, my mom’s and my hearts are torn into pieces.  Why must we feel such torment?

He was a civil servant of the Republic of Korea and a citizen of the Republic of Korea, who should have been protected.  He suffered for hours in the cold sea and was shot, killed, and burnt away, because of the fault of the government.

I’d like to ask–ho created the situation, in which we can’t even find his body?  What did the government do when he was mercilessly killed?  Why didn’t [the government] protect him?

I earnestly implore you, Mr. President.  Please restore the honor of my dad, so that my sister, my mom, and I won’t have to live a life of pessimism.  And please help bring back my dad to his family.

2020.10.6            From the son of the missing civil servant