Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
'Charity' restaurant owner dies at 73
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Kim Sun-ja
By Jhoo Dong-chan
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Kim Sun-ja, who has provided cheap meals at her “charity” restaurant for the poor in a rundown traditional market in the southwestern city of Gwangju, died of cancer Wednesday. She was 73.
Kim served Korean dishes for her poor neighbors at her restaurant, Sun-rising, in the Daein Traditional Market, eastern Gwangju. Her eatery has sold food for only 1,000 won ($0.90).
She opened the restaurant in 2010 after suffering a series of business failures. She once became prey to a fraudulent scheme, losing all her investment in jjimjilbang, or Korean-style sauna.
“I knew others need help as much as I needed it before,” Kim once said. “I just wanted to serve them with a warm and hearty meal.”
Her restaurant had attracted as many as 1,000 customers per day during its heyday.
Some neighbors also participated in the operation of Kim’s meal service business which has been described as a charity activity for the poor.
Some provided hundreds of briquettes and the others made kimchi for the restaurant. Some customers paid tens of thousands of won for a meal to thank Kim for her lofty cause.
However, Kim’s restaurant had to face a shutdown in 2012 when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
After hearing the sad news, neighboring restaurant owners, local businessmen in the market and citizens joined forces to follow Kim’s legacy.
According to her family, her last words were: “The 1,000-won restaurant should go on. I hope a hearty man will take over the restaurant and keep help people in need.”
Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun expressed his sorrow. “The 1,000-won dinner at the restaurant was the heartiest meal in the world. Kim’s legacy will remain in Gwangju.”
A memorial alter has been set up at Gwangju Saint John Hospital. The mayor and a number of fellow businessmen in the market are expected to pay their respects to the late Kim there.