By Kim Tae-jong
A Canadian professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) died suddenly Wednesday.
Professor Christopher Surridge, 46, fell to the ground at Yongsan Train Station in Seoul at around 4:00 p.m., complaining of a pain in his chest, and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly upon arrival, the university said Friday.
His death comes after four students and one professor from the school committed suicide this year.
The Canadian started working at the school in 2008 as an invited professor teaching English to students.
Students have posted messages of commiseration on the school’s official website. The death is tragic as he died one day before his birthday.
The university plans to hold a memorial service on May 11 and the funeral will be held in his home country upon the request of the bereaved family.
The police are now looking into whether he was suffering from any serious illnesses and plan to request an autopsy.