Gathering bereaved family's messages
Artist Hyesoo Park’s Mourning project

“Late Farewell” project by Hyesoo Park, THE BUSANILBO and Busan Museum of Art. ⓒTHE BUSANILBO

By The Late Farewell Project Team

THE BUSANILBO (The Busan Daily News)

Joint Project by Newspaper-Artist-Art museum

Simplified Separation Process with COVID Victims

Bereaved Family's Last Farewell and Stories

Post as Obituary on The Busan Daily News

Exhibition as Artwork at Busan Museum of Art

“The Nature of Art” Proposes a Time of Condolences

■ COVID-19 and Death

A lot has changed after the pandemic. The words “mask” and “social distancing” always follow our everyday life. An infectious disease called COVID-19 also took away the time to part with a loved one. The bereaved families of the COVID-19 victims cannot attend the deathbed because of concerns about infection. They just have to look at the coffin of the deceased from afar at the crematorium. The deceased eventually go back to their families as ashes after cremation. Even though it is not their fault, but the bereaved family feel sorry for letting the deceased leave lonely. They are also psychologically discouraged by social prejudice against confirmed cases of COVID-19 and those who passed away.

“Late Farewell” obituaries on newspaper 2021. 5. 7. and 2021. 8. 27. ⓒTHE BUSANILBO

THE BUSANILBO (The Busan Daily News), artist Hyesoo Park, and Busan Museum of Art have been working on a project of “Late Farewell” to comfort bereaved families who had to hold a simplified separation process with their dying victims. The artist gathered late farewell messages to the deceased from their family members and acquaintances. The stories gathered together are posted as obituaries on newspaper in partnership with THE BUSANILBO, and the exhibition introduces the entire texts as part of the artwork. This joint project by the newspaper company, artist, and art museum is being introduced to the public through the exhibition of “The Nature of Art” from April 23 to September 12, 2021.

There are real stories of people behind the daily updated COVID-19 death toll. A woman was heartbroken to see her late brother being remembered as “Gwangju 891” (city name + confirmed case number). “I miss my dad a lot.” “I miss you my brother, we will forever be three brothers.” The obituaries, which are based on the stories sent by the bereaved families, are hung in the exhibition hall and make us think about the meaning of death in this era.

THE BUSANILBO has conducted interviews by meeting some of the bereaved family members in person who were introduced in the obituaries. In this article, 4 of the 10 interviews published in the newspaper are being introduced. In this era of COVID-19, a painful breakup can always become a story of our own. Artist Park said “I hope that the pain of the bereaved families could be conveyed to the museum visitors and newspaper readers at least a little bit.” She also noted that “It could be an opportunity for people to think about the role of our society together in this era.”

Busan Museum of Art has prepared an exhibition of “The Nature of Art” with concerning the public role of the museum in the changing social environment of 2021 by COVID-19.

Participating artists: Donna Haraway, Ji Hye Yeom, Kyungjin Park, LEE-PARK KIM, Tae-Hun Kang, a’strict, Hyesoo Park, Man-young Jung ＆ Yoshihiro Kawasaki, Hyung-Geun Park, David Claerbout, Guido van der Werve.

Go to Video>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVZFJD6-Lng

“Fallen Flower”, 2021 by artist Hyesoo Park. ⓒTHE BUSANILBO

■ STORY NO.1

COVID-19 victim

Kwang-yoon Choi (June 1966 - April 2, 2021)

The obituary of Kwang-yoon Choi by Hyesoo Park (Painting: Yu-jin Sung). Reported in the newspaper 2021. 5. 7. (Page 16) ⓒBUSANILBO, Hyesoo Park

“I have a lot to say, but my dad who used to be healthy suddenly disappeared. Thank you, and I love you. I miss you and I really want to hear your voice again.”

– A part of Choi's obituary -

March 1, 2021 was Choi's 31st wedding anniversary. His two daughters recommended him a commemorative trip, but Choi refused it to avoid the dangers of COVID-19 infection. Instead, Choi decided to visit his parents' house in Seoul. However, starting with Choi's mother who was staying at home due to her old age, Choi's father, their caregiver, Choi and his wife were all confirmed for COVID-19. His family members get better gradually; but Choi's condition got worse. He had to put on a ventilator and went into an ECMO procedure.

Choi's daughter got a call from the hospital at dawn on April 2nd saying Choi's blood pressure continues to drop. His two daughters ran to the hospital and saw their father's face far beyond the glass. When questioned about their father's condition, the doctor answered “April 2nd. 9:07 a.m. Your father passed away.”

In the crematorium, the two daughters watched people with protective clothing carrying the coffin from afar. Choi returned to his family in a state of ashes and dental implant pieces after waiting for a full day. The elder daughter Mirim said “I love you” to her father's bone powder. “I at least said it to the bone powder as I thought I would regret it if I don't. I should have said I love you more often.”

Three weeks later, Choi's mother (Mirim's grandmother) also passed away. After carrying out her grandmother's funeral, Mirim realized that her father's funeral and the farewell process had been omitted to a great extent. “We could see or touch our grandmother's body,” said her second daughter, Daseul. “But It was too bad that we had to send our daddy even without touching him.”

Mirim succeeded her father as a manager of his factory. Whenever she thinks of her father, his hands with full of grease come to her mind. The hands that she cannot hold any longer must have been rough, but warm.

Choi's two daughters said “Daddy's smile was beautiful.” ⓒTHE BUSANILBO

■ STORY NO.2

COVID-19 victim

Byung-hwa Kang (Dec 1956 - May 9th, 2021)

The obituary of Byung-hwa Kang by Hyesoo Park (Painting: Yu-jin Sung). Reported in the newspaper 2021. 6. 25. (Page 15) ⓒBUSANILBO, Hyesoo Park

“I miss you who used to drink soju (Korean liquor) with family without hesitation and kindly listened to my life stories.”

– A part of Kang's obituary -

“I also got infected.” On May 5, 2021, Kang sent a message on social media to his wife on the sea. Kang, a marine engineer, left Korea in March and arrived in India in April. It was a time when COVID-19 cases surged in India. Inside the ship heading to Saudi Arabia after unloading, Kang sent a message to his wife that he was feeling a slight cold, and other sailors had severe cold symptoms as well. A few days later, seven people - including Kang, the chief engineer - tested positive for the coronavirus. The only medicine available on the ship was a painkiller.

“Do you feel better today?” His wife sent Kang a message on KakaoTalk messenger. But he did not check the massage and number ‘1 (read receipt) ’ has not disappeared. “Why aren't you replying?” She sent the message again, but the number ‘1’ of the massage remained the same. On May 9, a fellow sailor knocked on Kang's door, but there was no answer; He was dead alone on the ship.

Kang's body spent two days in a freezer on the ship after arriving in the United Arab Emirates. With the help of a local consulate, Kang's body was taken to a local hospital. Kang's son flew to the United Arab Emirates nine days after his father passed away. “The only thing I just wanted was to carry my father's remains back safely and let the whole family see his last moment.”

The father's fellow sailor asked his son to “put plenty of fruit on the memorial ceremony.” Kang wanted to eat oranges when he was ill, but his fellow regrets that he could only get apples for him as it was not available there. Kang, who was originally scheduled to return to Korea in November, returned as ashes in his son's arms.

Kang was a sweet husband. This was Kang's last voyage. After 42 years as a marine engineer, Kang dreamed of building a house and spending the rest of his life with his wife in the mountains of Gangwon Province where he was born. Kang bought a saxophone from an overseas flea market and performed at his son's wedding. He practiced his own motto of “diligently and joyfully.” Kang's son said, “He never made a will, but I will try to live up to what he had shown me as a father, a husband, and a chief engineer.”

Kang' wife painted their own portrait. ⓒByung-hwa Kang's bereaved family

■ STORY NO.3

Suspected COVID-19 victim

You-yeop Jung (Dec 2002 - Mar 18th, 2020)

The obituary of You-yeop Jung by Hyesoo Park (Painting: Yu-jin Sung). Reported in the newspaper 2021. 5. 7. (Page 16) ⓒBUSANILBO, Hyesoo Park

“You-Yeop, mom was always cheered for you. I always miss you my brother, I love you.”

– A part of Jung's obituary -

17 years old, a senior in high school. At the age full of dreams, a son left this world. You-yeop was a good son. On March 10, 2020, You-yeop lined up in front of a pharmacy to buy a mask for his father who was a cancer patient. It was when the publicly-distribution mask system was implemented in Korea due to the lack of masks. You-yeop, who was caught in the rain, started to have a fever since that evening. He showed symptoms of high fever and pneumonia, but he missed the appropriate treatment time as he was suspected of being infected with COVID-19. He underwent a total of 14 tests for the coronavirus until his death.

His mother, Lee, still blames herself for asking her son to buy a mask for father. It also breaks her heart to think that You-yeop –while he was quarantined at a hospital– had to endure fear and pain by himself. You-yeop often helped with his mom's housework who runs a small restaurant. He also prepared dinner with ramen boiled with kimchi for his mom when she came back from work. The son who kissed his mother every morning. “I don't think I said I love you that much.” Lee said, wiping her tears away.

The three brothers were on good terms. The eldest brother, who was seven years older, bought You-yeop delicious foods or clothes when he made money from part-time jobs. When his second brother was joining the army, You-yeop surprised his family by getting a buzz cut together with his brother. They planned to drink alcohol together when the youngest boy You-yeop turns 20 – legal age of adulthood in Korea – but it became a dream that could never come true.

You-yeop was also a good singer. He was in a band at his cathedral; and when he sang at the school event, his friends cheered for his songs. He is remembered as “a friendly child who comes first and talks” to his friends.

His father, Jung, traveled a lot with You-yeop. The funeral portrait of his son was also taken by his father during their trip to Japan. Jung is participating in a campaign to strengthen public healthcare in the wake of his son's death. “Corona will end someday, but this is not the end.” Father still can't believe the absence of his youngest son. “There's a lot to show, experience and share with, but You-yeop left too soon.”

You-yeop's photo is in the living room of Jung's family. The small picture on the right is a photo of the You-yeop and his two brothers in their childhood. ⓒBUSANILBO

■STORY NO.4

Underlying disease victim who couldn't encounter her family due to COVID-19

Haeng-ja Park (Feb 1927 - Dec 26th, 2020)

The obituary of Haeng-ja Park by Hyesoo Park (Painting: Yu-jin Sung). Reported in the newspaper 2021. 5. 7. (Page 16) ⓒBUSANILBO, Hyesoo Park

“When I see you in the sky one day, you’ll give me a warm hug. I'll remember the smile that you've always welcomed me warmly.”

– A part of Park's obituary -

“Min-gui, your grandmother just passed away.” Min-gui kim, a granddaughter of Haeng-ja Park, was speechless and didn't know what to do. Her grandmother was hale and hearty even when she was over 90 years old, but suddenly collapsed in early December 2020. Doctor diagnosed that it was advanced gastric cancer. Her family took her grandmother to a nursing hospital. To prevent COVID-19, the nursing hospital restricted visitors to patients. She expected to visit her grandmother in the New Year if the situation gets better. But she suddenly passed away the day after Christmas.

When there were more than a thousand confirmed COVID-19 cases a day during the third wave of the pandemic in Korea, her relatives – residing in foreign countries – had to watch the funeral through video calls. Kim was worried that her grandmother might have been lonely on her way. When she was organizing her grandmother's belongings after the funeral, she found a letter that she wrote 20 years ago while she was studying in Japan. Her grandmother often saw family photos during the COVID period. As she turned over each album, she took out her favorite photos and kept them in a frame. Kim thinks about her feelings when she met her family only through pictures. ‘How much longing did you swallow? How heavy was the step to leave without saying goodbye to your family?’

Granddaughter Kim misses her grandmother's room so much. The room was a haven. She felt at ease when she was there. Kim vividly remembers her grandmother's bed, dressing table, closet and the warmth of the room. To Kim, her grandmother was a spiritual pillar. The separation between her and her grandmother is now progressive. If she could meet her grandmother again, Kim said she would like to give her a hug. “If we can meet each other again, I want to say ‘I love you, my grandmother’ and hug her.”

Min-gui kim missed her grandmother Park's room. ⓒ Min-gui kim

The Late Farewell Project Team THE BUSANILBO (Geum-a Oh, Dae-jin Lee, Jun-young Kim, Yu-ri Seo)

E-mail to: chris@busan.com (for Article), soobox@gmail.com (for Art project)

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