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59-year-old Shin Yeong-ja, the mother of 34-year-old Kim Sun-il, who was taken hostage Monday by resistance forces in Iraq, grabbed a hold of reporters and begged the government, "Whatever you do, please save my son Sun-il's life."
When Kim's father 69-year-old Kim Jong-gyu and mother arrived at Busan Station at 12:24, their eyes were all swollen and bloodshot from crying over their son in the train. The senior Kim simply kept repeating, "Please, save my son. If my son dies, my life is over." They were visiting their daughter in Cheonan from Thursday, and got word of the kidnapping of their son in a hotel in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan at 7:20 a.m. Monday. "Our daughter suddenly ran to our hotel. She said it came out on the news that our son was kidnapped in Iraq. Since we didn't believe it, we called the Foreign Ministry and police to see if it was really our son," Kim said. He said, "In the train, we got a call from the Foreign Minister, who said, 'Since negotiations are currently underway, don't worry.'" Right now, Kim said, the only thing he wishes for is the safe return of his son.
Sun-il is the third of the couple's four children, and the only son. The two said , Sun-il was a diligent student who studied so much he could have graduated from three universities. They said he never complained to his parents, even when finances at home were tight, and that he did odd jobs in factories to earn his college tuition.
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After learning of Korean worker Kim Sun-il’s kidnapping by Iraqi insurgents, Kim’s aunt Shin Suk-ja talks to reporters while holding a university graduation photo of Kim at his parents house in Busan, Monday./Yonhap
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They explained that their son went to Iraq because he dreamed of later becoming a missionary in the Arab world. To do this, he entered the Arabic department Hanguk University of Foreign Studies and got a job with Gana Trading Company. His mother said, "Last year, before he went to Iraq, I called him to tell him not to go because it was dangerous, but he didn't change his mind... I was worried back then, and now this." The elder Kim, his hands trembling, said, "I'm going crazy thinking about the scene of that American who got decapitated last time. I just hope those people let my son live." Kim last spoke with his parents in April. At that time, he told his parents he was fine and not to worry.
The elder Kim is planning to hold his 70th birthday banquet in July. The father's birthday is in September, but they pulled the celebration two months ahead because Sun-il was coming back in July, the family said. His uncle, 55-year-old Kim Jae-chan, who was staying at the family's house in Busan, said, "We're not politicians, so we don't really know well, but don't we have to suspend sending troops to Iraq?" He said, "We don't know politics well. But weren't those Japanese who were kidnapped in Iraq released? Please, government, do your best to save Sun-il. Sun-il, please come back to us alive."
(Kim Bong-gi, knight@chosun.com )
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