[부고] 미주 민주화와 통일운동 원로 국영길 변호사 별세

국영길 변호사 생전 모습

국영길 변호사, 2020년9월12일(토요일) 오후 7시 병환으로 자택에서 별세

9월5일(토요일) 지병이 악화되어 병원으로 입원 하였다가 3일후 퇴원.

12일 오후 7시 88세 일기로 가족들이 지켜보는 가운데 영면하였다.

그동안 크게 아프지도 않았고 아침에 일어나면 가벼운 산책을 하며 일상을 보냈다.

약력:

26세, 1958년 여름 도미하여 브리감영 대학교 국제정치학을 전공

1980년대 5.18민중항쟁의 여파로 새역사 인식이 뿌리를 내리던 시기 로스엔젤레스 한국민주화운동협의회 회장

59세, 1991년 변호사시험에 합격하여 로스엔젤레스에서 변호사겸 법정통역관 활동

고인은 2017년1월까지 법정통역 희망자들을 교육시키는 사업에도 종사해 왔고, 재미동포중 몰몬교회 개척자 1호로 알려졌다.

장례 일정

일시 : 10월2일 (금요일) 오전 10시30분

추모식 장소 : North Hollwood Forest Lawn Mortuary (가족중심)

유족

부인 : 국수잔 여사 (213-448-0391)

자녀 :

스펜서(아들), 손녀 : 애바 14세

자넷(딸), 쌍둥이 6세, 손자 : 루카스, 손녀 : 크로이

YUNG GILL KOOK REMEMBERED

https://www.yunggillkook.com

​Yung Gill Kook
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3/27/1932 - 9/12/2020

In Memoriam

Yung Gill Kook (88), husband, father, grandfather, colleague and friend passed away on September 12, 2020.

Our father was born on March 27, 1932 in Korea. Though he would not make much of it as that was his way, his childhood was not an easy one. His own father passed away when he was eight years old. His only memory of his father is one he recalls from a picture. His mother lacked financial resources and, early on, he was forced to live with an uncle who reluctantly cared for him and his older brother. Many days he would go hungry.

Schooling was difficult. In his early years, his education was in Japanese (as Korea was under Japan's rule) and it was during World War II. As he has said of those early years regarding his Japanese education, "Other than mathematics, there was no scientific content of the subject[s] they were taught. The central idea was to serve and obey the imperial authority... There was no concept of individual liberty, human dignity, no concept of individual motivation or creativity. Only creativity or motivation was to give life to fight and defend the Emperor. In retrospect, I have come to understand this education was against human value. But, when I was young and under that environment, I did not know any alternative."

Schooling shifted for our father in 1945 when Korea was liberated. In the south, where he lived he began to be educated in sixth grade in what he called an "American style humanistic education." Educational resources remained limited. His village had no library and there were hardly any books. He would have to use to his older brother's already used notebooks to write in to keep his own notes and he continued to reuse them until they were completely unusable. He had to wear (and quickly outgrew) the same school uniform that he wore from seventh to eleventh grade.

The Korean War started in 1950, which disrupted his already disrupted educational career. That time, however, also marked the beginning of the work he would do for much of the rest of his life - that is, communicating with people and translating. That year he began to work full-time, first as a house-boy for the U.S. Army compound called the U.S. Army Field Hospital and then as an English-Korean interpreter to communicate between Korean locals and the U.S. military. It was during this time, he developed his linguistic skill in English and also was exposed to the Christian religion.

He later attended Busan Sabum School and then Busan University to study law to become an attorney or scholar in Korea. He also served his mandatory service with the South Korean army. However, for a better future, he decided to move to America. With the assistance of Spencer Palmer, a Mormon military chaplain and professor of BYU, and his wife, Shirley, he moved to the United States to continue his education at BYU to study political science and law.

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​Like his formative years in Korea, immigrating to America and succeeding was a constant exercise of perseverance. He worked many jobs, ranging from being a busboy, a waiter, a bakery assistant, a warehouse-man, a meat-packer, a machine shop operator, a machine shop inspector, and finally a court interpreter (translating between, English, Japanese, and Korean).

Then, at the age of 59 years young, he earned his Juris Doctorate in the United States, and finally achieved his dream of being an attorney. He successfully ran a law practice until his retirement, and continued to work as a court interpreter and adjunct teacher at UCLA extension and elsewhere to teach others to become court interpreters.

Throughout his life, our father was very involved in the Korean community and very politically minded. At one point or another, he was a member, an advisor and/or officer of the Korean Federation of Southern California, Korean-American Political Association, Korean Medical Doctors Association, Korean Pharmacist Association, Korean Oriental Medicine Association, Busan Alumni Association, and Honam Association. Because of his ability to communicate in English and Korean in those early years, he was often called to speak on behalf of various Korean interest groups and the Korean community at large.

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​"Some have a deterministic philosophy in believing that a human being is merely a product of their environment. Because you were poor, you could not have an education. Because you lived in a hostile environment, you would become a gangster. I, on the contrary, believe that men are creators of their own making out of whatever situation they are placed. By being eternally motivated, one can accomplish a lot despite the limitations and restrictions of the circumstances that they may be in." Yung Gill Kook, 1997

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Without a doubt, his greatest joy came from his wife and family. He is survived by his loving and beloved wife, Myung Hee (Susan) of 48 years of marriage, and his two children; Spencer Kook (partner Kerry, granddaughter Ava Grace, and canine-grand-daughters Charlotte and Luna) and Janet Kook Petersen (partner Kent, and grandchildren Lucas and Chloe). He took great pride in his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments and taught, both in his words and in his actions, to always maintain a positive attitude, to work hard, to reach high, to act with integrity, and to love unconditionally.

Thankfully, our father passed away peacefully in his sleep with his wife and our mother singing and praying next to him. As the end of his time on earth was known, his family blessedly was able to spend time with him in his final days to speak with him, sing to him and pray with him. He will be sorely missed.

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Grandpa ("Harabuhji") and Family

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Harabuhji in the News

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Funeral Services

A private funeral will be held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills for family in the coming week. We are grateful that many of you have expressed an interest in attending to honor him. We are truly overwhelmed and would love to connect with each and every one of you. However, given the current state of our world and the risk inherent in large gatherings, the family must respectfully decline those requests for the sake of everyone's well-being. We hope to connect soon in the future.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please kindly take moment to leave a note and/or share a memory below. God bless.

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We will miss you harabuhji! Smile down at us in peace. ​In the meantime, keep hitting them straight!