Police said the teacher identified by his surname Kim, was found hanging at home near Haeundae, a scenic beach in the nation's second largest city, at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday. The head of a private language institute where the 35-year-old Canadian worked first reported it to police.
He told them that he found the teacher hanging in the living room when he visited the apartment, as the teacher missed work and did not respond to repeated phone calls, Wednesday.
Practically nothing else has been written about this, save for two sentences in the 부산일보, which writes that he was 33, demonstrating a need for some standard in the local media for reporting ages. Monster Island wrote a post on the 2nd, though no further details have emerged on the largely Busan-focused KoreaBridge forum, or on the Dave's ESL Cafe thread.
An interesting bit of information Stephannie White brought up on Dave's last year was this page on South Korea, part of the US State Department's "Deaths of US Citizens Abroad from Non-Natural Causes." In 2009 there were 14 such deaths of US citizens in South Korea, including three in Busan---two of which were suicides---and a suicide in Jeollanam-do's Haenam county. I'd be interested to collect similar information from the other countries that send native speaker English teachers here.
18 comments:
When I worked in Kunsan, a British co-worker killed himself in much the same manner.
The uni tried to cover it up, but when you have dozens of people watching the ambulance driver bring out a body bag, no one is going to believe that he went back home.
I'm not surprised the media has said almost nothing about this case. I've heard of three people here (that I've known personally in one way or another) who have killed themselves; not one of them made the news.
I added something to this page a few minutes ago, the information from "Deaths of US Citizens Abroad." Took me a long time to track that down. Without going through all the papers and blogs from last year, I can say I recall none of those making the English-language news. I know one was the man known on Dave's as "Joongno Guru" and there was something posted on The Marmot's Hole about it. Some of those were probably service(wo)men, so there might have been something on ROK Drop.
I'm a guy who follows Jeollanam-do news pretty carefully, especially when it comes to the English-speaking expat community, and before a few minutes ago I never heard about a suicide of an American in Haenam county.
It's a sad story, to say the least, but not exactly one that would appeal to readers, whether Korean or international. Suicides are quite common here, and I suspect gyopo aren't immune... Since it's not exactly something that helps your reputation, there's every reason to cover it up and try to lie your way through it...
Yes, suicides are common in Korea, and South Korea leads the OECD in them again.
Your "appeal" might not be the right word, but certainly other Americans and Canadians in Korea---or with friends and family in Korea---would like to read about it. I think it's certainly irresponsible for the local English-language media, written though it is by Koreans and for Koreans, to not report on these deaths, even moreso if they're doing it to save face.
JongnoGuru (John Jones) was a great guy. Although you didn't make the implication, I should point out for posterity sake he died in a motorcycle accident, he didn't kill himself. I don't want a casual reader to think that. I was surprised his tribute on Dave's ESL was without a single harsh word for him. When has any thread not become a flame war?
The marmot posting about him doesn't really have anything positive to say in comments other than some guy bragging he looked better than John for his age. Geez. I didn't want that to be the only persistent online tribute to him so I put up my own page:
http://www.gokorea.info/john_jones_jongno_guru.html
Thanks for the link, Puffin Watch. I wasn't implying, and don't want people to think, it was a suicide. Sorry to see a Marmot's Hole thread---by a guest blogger, what a surprise---turn into that.
Jongno Guru died in a bike crash? Damn, RIP.
Actually I bet the age discrepancy is due to someone reporting his Korean age and someone reporting his Western age. Depending on when his birthday was, that could explain it. Of course, it could just be crappy reporting.
Yes, the link on "ages" goes to the Wikipedia article on East Asian age reckoning. There should be a standard on how ages are reported.
Chris,
This might interest you: Korean news link to images of the Russian subway bombing, including many of the dead
I'm not one to be disgusted easily, but do these pictures really need to be shown, and what about the rights of the deceased? Again, wonderful reporting here in South Korea.
I'm not one to be disgusted easily, but do these pictures really need to be shown, and what about the rights of the deceased? Again, wonderful reporting here in South Korea.
I would rather not have my news scrubbed and made family friendly. A little naked viet girl with burned skin doesn't respect conjured "rights" but arguably it helped stop a war.
I also wonder in your opinion what international rights do the families of victims have and where is it enshrined?
To borrow an argument from Penn Jillette people grieving aren't really hunting up Korean web sites to view images of their dead relatives. Your link shows one picture that implies gruesome images but shows no people. On the odd event a relative arrived at that page, would he/she click through to, say, the image of the guy dead in his seat?
Although when that Korean got his head cut off in Iraq, South Korea's response was to basically shut down access to the outside world. I think a charge of hypocrisy sticks.
A Canadian suicided in Mokpo in 2003.
Very sad event. My sympathies go to the deceased family and friends.
However, compiling a lost of deceased expats in various countries that hire ESL Teacher would serve what purpose exactly? Beyond basic curiosity on your part Brian? I just do not the use of publishing such a list.
As for the media publishing the death, its hard to say if they should or not. To be fair they could report each death the same way: a small story or short article with the basics: name of the person and general circumstances. Nothing more is needed for the deceased family as they get the rest of the information privately and can then grieve in peace.
The public's need to know all too often missused to justify all sorts of articles and news bits. Look at what happene with Shawn Matthews a couple of years ago. He apparently jumped off the roof of a building. It made the news and several online forums started posting jokes and crap about his death.
If my son or daughter died abroad, I would want the option to PRIVATELY mourn this and decide what I want to share with complete strangers.
Just basic curiosity, I think, Chris. I wouldn't want it to be an indictment of Korea or anything.
Anythnig anyone can do to support those who appear sad enough to act badly on it should also be supported here, as ATEK is doing. But it's hard to notice "ET's" because in many cases we are cordoned off, or can only socialize on weekends, etc.
Most Hagwans will consider seeing a pyschologist/psychiatrist an act of weakness, thus, a comprehensive list of English-speaking shrinks might do a world of good. Anyone got one for Korea?
D
The problem with a psychologist or psychiatrist here in Korea is that they do not seem to practice current 2010 medicine.
If you where to put down that you had EVER since a doctor about any mental problems you will be black listed from working in Korea. I'm not making this up. They have the mind set that we had in the 1950's.
They are of the opinion that you are not fit to work here and especially teach kids... in their words..."it's dangerous".
So that being said if someone is having problems the best thing is to get them back home where they can hopefully get treatment and not have to feel like commiting suicide is the only option to them.
I have been in Korea since 1990 and there have numerous expat suicides and deaths that are not covered by the media. And when they are, there's not much follow up like the murder of an Army Captain (a doctor) in Itaewon on the same day of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War by a middle-aged Korean man. The captain, who was TDY to Korea, was stabbed to death.
Brian I did not think you wanted to accuse Korea of anything. I was just saying that I think the death of someone should be something private to leave the family of the deceased time to process the loss in peace. The decision to share the details of the death should be left to the family of the deceased.
Someone's suicide or accidental death should not be used as a media selling point or used to promote a cause.
That is just my opinion on what I feel is a very private matter.
Cheers
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