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koldijk
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Location: ULSAN
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 Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: William Kapoun |
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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/117_20364.html
Foreign Teacher Dies of Injuries From Fire
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Report
William Kapoun, 26, an American teacher who sustained severe burn injuries in a fire at his apartment, passed away Saturday.
He had been in intensive care at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, since Feb. 24.
The young American�s parents asked for repeated cardiopulmonary resuscitation after concurrent cardiac arrests to be stopped.
His father Dan Kapoun, a retired soldier, plans to hold a memorial service at the U.S. Army Base in Yongsan as soon as his son�s body is conveyed to the family from the hospital after the settlement of treatment fees, estimated at 77 million won (about $80,000) in total.
Donators and supporters extended their helping hand to the Kapoun family through the blog site www.billkapoun.com. They also made direct donations to a bank account that was opened here under the name of Warren Franklin William Fund. The donations have reached about $60,000 in total, according to his friends.
``Thank you all of you, from our entire family for your support and good wishes. The Korean people have been very kind to us,�� Judy Kapoun, his mother told The Korea Times. His parents will return to the United States after the memorial service here.
On top of donations from various people around the world, his family found that part of treatment costs would be covered by South Korea�s National Health Insurance Corp. following a retroactive payment. About 30 million won was covered by the insurance.
His death has alerted other foreign teachers here about their working conditions and safety. ``The unfortunate tragedy awoke me to the fact that foreign teachers should make plans for their own safety. They must make sure that they are covered by insurance,�� said Michale John Bodnar, one of William�s friends.
Meanwhile, police said it appears the fire was ``accidental.�� But they said they have yet to officially determine the exact cause of the fire that killed Kapoun and his girlfriend.
``We have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire. But it appears the fire broke out accidentally and chances of arson are low,�� a police official said.
Kapoun, a graduate of Indiana University, had been teaching students English as a part-time teacher at Bulam Elementary School in Northern Seoul. The fire at his apartment left him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body.
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fromtheuk
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| He looked so normal. It's a sad story. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Very sad... |
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dmbfan
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Meanwhile, police said it appears the fire was ``accidental.�� But they said they have yet to officially determine the exact cause of the fire that killed Kapoun and his girlfriend. |
Hmmmm...me thinks that the monkey squad will probably try to brush this one under the rug. |
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DrunkenMaster
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Does someone know his blog name? Something like the wandering American |
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Suwoner10
Joined: 10 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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How incredibly morbid of Korea to hold a dead body until fees are paid.
Haven't Koreans invented the "bill," or don't Koreans pay their bills, hence the lack of just sending someone the medical bill? I don't get it.
How long would they keep a dead body, for arguments' sake, should bills not be paid in full? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Suwoner10 wrote: |
| Haven't Koreans invented the "bill," or don't Koreans pay their bills, hence the lack of just sending someone the medical bill? |
That's right. Very many Koreans default on their bills. And, yet, who gets denied services? Yep, foreigners. And the reason is an obvious lie: "The foreigners have many times defaulted on the bill?" I'd like to know how it's even possible to default payment on a service never even provided!
| Quote: |
| How long would they keep a dead body, for arguments' sake, should bills not be paid in full? |
Truth be known? Probably forever. And I wouldn't be at all surprised had the body ended up being ordered sold by a court to a university hospital for coursework to satisfy the bill--and the parents still being stuck with the shortfall on the payment!
Last edited by CentralCali on Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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nicholas_chiasson
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Location: Samcheok
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| -I'd pull a...how long does a hospital want to keep a dead body? Not to mention dead bodies are NOT the property of a hospital for all I know. Not mention lawyers charge money...but I've never heard of a legal case in which you could claim a body as security for debts. |
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dmbfan
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| How long would they keep a dead body, for arguments' sake, should bills not be paid in full? |
Ya know...........this is a phucking shame. I mean, a guy in the prime of his life, teaching, doing a good thing for others.................only to end like this (and his G-friend). This is really sad, my heart goes out to his family and his g-friends family.
But, I am........even now...........amazed at the ignorance off the Korean way. ..l...holding a dead body until the bills are paid? I think more should be looked at.........in regards to the safety codes of the apartment building....fire escape.....smoke detectors.....you know, things that Koreans have no clue about.
Phucking knuckle dragging, mouth breathers.
dmbfan |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:06 am Post subject: |
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Back when I first moved to LOS I was replacing a teacher that was about to cark it from TB. Her mother and father flew over to be with her in her final days.
She had insurance from the school. On her death bed the manager of the school tried to get the girl to sign a release form stating that she and her family were responsible for the bills.
It was part of the Assumption group - the largest Catholic schools in Thailand. The guy trying to get her to sign was a devout Flilipino Catholic.
Charming |
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dmbfan
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: |
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It was part of the Assumption group - the largest Catholic schools in Thailand. The guy trying to get her to sign was a devout Flilipino Catholic.
Charming |
.......indeed.
dmbfan |
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koldijk
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Location: ULSAN
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: burned alive... |
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i shared this story with my coworker (Korean) and she said:
"It must be his fault"
Aren't you glad that we don't have stereotypes?
Korea: SPARKLING |
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DrunkenMaster
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:56 am Post subject: |
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Maybe all she meant was that his actions or lack of them started the fire. I wouldn't condemn her for that. She just couldn't fathom how you would care about a stranger. It's just ignorance, not anything vile.
The whole "sparking" thing is a bit retarded. |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| "Ignorance is no excuse." That was the first rule I learnt in the military. |
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koldijk
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Location: ULSAN
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: trolling? |
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"sparkling is a bit retarded"
didn't you know? Korea is a paradise...
ignorance isn't an excuse?
A Korean who burns to death in a fire is a tragedy. A foreigner who burns to death, he deserved it because it must be his fault...
whatever...
This is why we have fire departments? Fires happen, people die...
But in Korea, it's whities fault and since all white people are rich, it's another opportunity to get money from us... |
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