I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Mourners Hope 46 Heroes Will Rest in Peace
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Hundreds of bloggers paid homage to the 46 "heroes" who lost their lives during the sinking of the naval vessel Cheonan, leaving their condolences on the blogs of the fallen sailors.
Their mourning of the seamen continued Thursday when the funeral for the 46 fallen sailors took place, drawing nationwide attention to pay respects to the families of the young soldiers.
On the national day of mourning, flags were flown at half-mast.
The late Moon Young-wook, 23, one of the heroes, now rests in peace after faithfully fulfilling his duty to protect the nation and its citizens.
With a bouquet of yellow flowers in his hand and wearing his high school uniform, Moon posed with his mother on his graduation day in the photo posted on his blog.
Near the top of the photo, there is a motto, which reads, "Dating with a girlfriend is extravagance."
Moon's mother passed away after suffering from a stroke a few years before her only son also lost his life.
"I wish for you to rest in peace with your mom in heaven and lead a happy afterlife forever," a blogger wrote.
Another blogger, who introduced herself as a former co-worker at a restaurant in Busan back in 2006, when the late sailor was working there part-time, wrote Moon was a caring and dependable person.
"One day in the evening, there were fireworks outside while we were working. I tried to look through the window. He brought me a chair so that I could watch the fireworks at a better angle," she recalled.
The late Moon's blog was last updated on April 16 by one of his relatives.
A girlfriend of another fallen sailor, Chief Petty Officer Cho Jin-young, wrote a tearful letter on April 25 to her late boyfriend in the message board of his blog.
"Today is our last day. I let go of you to leave me forever," she said.
She wrote the message after Cho's family cremated his body.
"I felt much better after the cremation because I was able to talk to you a lot during the ceremony. Do not worry about anything here. I just want you to rest in peace," she said.
A friend of the late Petty Officer Lee Sang-min, 23, said he couldn't control his own emotions as he has had to deal with such anguish after his friend died.
"If I had known the reunion that we had last time when you took days leave from the Navy was the last one, I would have been much nicer to you," he wrote.
Lee's mother regretted that she belatedly learned how much her son loved her from his colleagues.
"I was told that you missed me many times in the military. My son, you need to know this. It was my privilege to have such a wonderful son like you," she said.
Families and relatives of the heroes said in despair that they were so sorry for not being able to protect them from the maritime disaster.
The mother of the late Petty Officer Lee Yong-sang said she only wished for her son to finally feel free out there.
"You were always so nice and wonderful. You had shouldered a heavy burden because you were the eldest son. I hope you leave that burden aside and rest in peace. Wait for me as I will join you someday. Love your mother," she said.