Student Corner Miracles in life

By Daniel Kim

"Resonance" is a new word to me. The architects and engineers who have recently investigated the tremor that occurred in the 39-story Techno Mart building in Seoul tentatively concluded that it was caused by a form of aerobic exercise performed by dozens of people.

The vibration caused on the 12th floor coincided with the resonance frequency unique to the building, they say.

Frankly, I don't understand the scientific reasoning but fortunately the tall building did not collapse with thousands of people in it.

I am puzzled at the fact that buildings collapse and bridges fall into the water. It happens quite often all over the world. I thought they were supposed to be permanent structures, or at least semi-permanent.

I'm sure everyone wants to stay in a safe building but my own concern about safety in construction is much keener than others because I almost lost the chance to be born. My father's miraculous story of his once-in-a-life-time experience goes like this.

"It was one of those beautiful days before the rainy season. June 29, 1995. I had a dinner meeting with one of my friends at a Korean restaurant on the fifth floor of Sampoong Department Store then located in Seocho-dong, Seoul, not far from our apartment. We agreed to meet at 6 p.m. I've never been late to a meeting. When I was approaching the main entrance of the shopping mall, it was 4 minutes before 6. Just then, the top floor of the five story building started tumbling. It collapsed onto the fourth floor and then onto the third, the second, the first and into the underground floors.

The sound of the building’s collapse resembled the sound of a train’s engine, only louder. Along with enormous clouds of cement dust, the whole building crumbled. In less than 30 seconds, the entire five story building had completely disappeared into a huge dark square hole in the ground, leaving a mass of dust and agonizing cries in the air. Two side walls barely stood there exposing ugly pieces of reinforcing bars here and there. The debris in the hole was an inferno. I thought I was having a nightmare," said my father.

"My wrist watch showed six o’clock. I looked around for my friend, cried out his name running around among thunderstruck people outside, hoping desperately he was late. Later I learned that my friend was among some 1,500 people who were trapped under the debris. You were born in July the next year, Jae Heon," my father said. (He doesn't call me Daniel.)

"There was more to my miraculous story," he continued. "Rescue crews arrived within minutes of the disaster with red lights flashing and sirens blowing. My throat choked. I wanted, like many other surviving men at the site, to join the rescue operation but the rescuers ordered us to stay away. They really did a heroic job and saved a lot of injured people from under the debris- a miracle after miracle. A young boy was rescued a week after the collapse and a 19 year old girl was pulled out from the wreckage 12 days after she was trapped under a broken concrete slab. The marvel continued. Two other youngsters were saved from death. If they had any children, they should be about your age," Dad smiled.

My father often repeated his hellish, yet very lucky, experience at our dinner table when I was younger. I remember laughing then saying, "You're lucky, Dad," and mom saying, "We've heard that a hundred times."

I'll be a 9th grader in September at a wonderful school called Cardigan Mountain School in the beautiful suburbs of New Hampshire. It's a boy's school with emphasis placed on good citizenship, character development, leadership, and social graces.

I like my school and I'm happy to be going there. I'm happy because my father, who believes that God has given him a second life, is always happy or tries to be happy.

My father's story, which was repeated throughout my summer vacation in Korea this year, meant something different to me this time. It "resonated" in my heart, but I'm not sure if I want to experience miracles in life.

If I can help it, I'd rather prefer not to have such wonders. I know I won't be able to control my destiny, but I am sure I can do my best to become one of the most qualified professionals in ensuring the safety of building design and construction.

Daniel Kim is in 8th grade at Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, New Hampshire, United States.