Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jurassic5]

what a tragic story...

last night, i sent out an email to the editors and some reporters at the korea herald, korea times, and the joonang ilbo to see if they have any information about this story. i would think a news reporter would love to investigate this story and break it. (i know that i had emailed the times before about the bubble sisters and they ended up writing an article about them.) so i hope that the truth is found out as to what happened since this is one very sad story indeed.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

cubase wrote:

[The King of Kwangju]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[email protected]

Lee Kyong-hee, Editor-in-chief, Korea Herald.

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[email protected]

Korea Times main e-mail address.

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[email protected]

Joonang Ilbo, Public relations

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[jurassic5]

Here are some of the email addresses for the major English papers in Korea. (Editors and reporters)
Personally, if I were a reporter, I would have wanted to cover a major story like this because it should gain international attention, which would help solve this case and also help the writing career as well. so i don't know why these guys at the papers haven't written anything about it.

Korea Times:
[email protected]
(there are other email addy's, you just have to read any article by a writer and they usually have their address at the end of the story)

Korea Herald:
Lee Kyong-hee Editor-in-chief [email protected]
Choi Nam-hyun Editorial writer [email protected]
Yu Keun-ha Managing editor [email protected]
Chon Shi-yong Deputy Managing Editor [email protected]
Kim Kih-sohp News editor [email protected]
Shin Yong-bae National Editor [email protected]
Yoo Cheong-mo Business editor [email protected]
Kim Hoo-ran Culture editor [email protected]

Joonang Ilbo:
Director:
Lee Je-hak [email protected]
Chief Editor:
Harold Piper [email protected]
Sub Editors:
John Hoog [email protected]
Arnold Stockhard Tel : [email protected]
Toby Smith Tel : [email protected]
Harry Lipper [email protected]

[Big Ger]

My name is Gerry and I have been one of Matt�s friends for the past five years. I remember the first time I met Matt it was in an old apartment in Non Hyun Dong. The first that I noticed about him was his laugh. Those of you that knew him know what I�m talking about; it was loud, boisterous, and contagious. Matt and I shared many good times together, as well as helping each other through the low times. Over the years our relationship developed into one of comfort, trust, and maturity. He and I were like old high school buddies talking about old times, things to come, and every thing in the middle. Always finding pleasure in one another�s company, I know Matt was a friend I could always count on. Matt would often come over to my house and play with my little baby and talk with my wife. He was very kind and gentle and well liked by all. I�ll miss our walks at night, our talks, and all the good times we will not have. And I�ll miss what he said to me, almost on a daily basis, �Gerry your CRAZY�

Now to address some of the questions many of you seem to have about his death. I do not wish to discuss Matt�s behavior prior to the 19th of April, the day he was taken into custody by the police. He was taken into custody that morning, held for a few hours, and then transferred to another hospital. We, and I mean his close friends, do know the names of the hospitals, the detectives, and everyone else involved. Some friends went to visit him that day and reported that he was sleeping. He was sedated. The embassy knew where he was but did not bother to send someone out to check on him. The next day, April 20th, he was complaining about chest pains and they decided to transfer him to a university hospital. On route he passed away, roughly 5:30 on the 20th. About twenty of us were at the hospital shortly thereafter. He had many Korean friends there so the language barrier was not a problem. All of the information we had was given to the police, the embassy, and his family. An autopsy was performed the next day and the results are still pending. Matthew�s body was flown back to Alabama on Monday and the funeral will be on Friday, May 02, 2003.

With regards to the media, which some people criticized for not reporting the story. They came around looking for a story a day after he died. The family had not been contacted at that time so nobody (his friends) said anything to the reporter.

Those are the facts. The only reason I am writing all of this is because I don�t want people to be speculating, coming up with conspiracy theories, and trying to make Matt�s death into something that it�s not. On some of your postings I have seen false information. My point; there are a lot of questions about why he died and no solid answers as of yet. Until we know please keep the guessing to a minimum. I don�t believe an open forum like this is the place to be trying to play detective. I think it�s disrespectful to Matt�s memory. I have been talking with Matt�s family a few times and they have a lot of questions and are determined to get them answered. On this end we are trying to do what we can to find out what really happened. There are many people who will not rest until we have a clear, truthful picture of what caused Matt�s death.

As Nate said before we have to remember that a man has died. My friend is gone and that makes me weep. I would just like to ask all of you to have some respect for Matt and his family when you post a response in this thread. I�m sure Matt would do the same for you.

Gerry Robinson
[email protected]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Gerry, point well taken.

Thanks for clearing up a lot of things and putting things into perspective. Many people (myself included) need to calm down about it.

I must admit when I first heard about it, the instinctual human habit of being curious took over. For not controlling that aspect of my humanity, I truly apologize.

I think one of the things that is on people's minds is that some of us feel "it could be one of us".

Anyway, I will refrain from further speculation because as you said there a lot of facts floating around that are not entirely accurate and it would be a disservice to his memory to keep going the way we are.

[cubase]

Thank you for posting this, Gerry. It's what I was trying to say, admittedly not very well. I found the conspiracy theories and baseless speculation tasteless.

I'm sure many people want clear answers about what happened to him. Passing rumours and creating stories out of thin air answers nothing and provides no comfort to those who need it now.

I'm truly sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a great guy.

[itaewonguy]

SOMEONE HAS DIED!!
A fellow teacher has DIED!!!
that pretty much wakes us all up and says WOW, korea is not the safe haven we all thought it was!!!

now for my post which I hope THE MODERATORS dont think is speculation,

speculation, know one had a problem last month when their were over 100 posts and speculations over the IRAQ war!

I am pissed off that MATHEW died, so what I have been trying to say is!

I think the Police, and hospital staff should be brought in for Questioning!
they need to be investigated!!!
This should not be left alone to be swept under the RUG!!
we should do more to let the public know!
I mean~ what a foreigner who died here means nothing ??

I am not speculating his death!

I am saying the cops and medical staff need to be questioned more!!
thank you..
I am one pissed off teacher..
that a fellow teacher can just drop dead in the custody of the LAW! and MEDICAL personal!!
again I stress! NO SPECULATION!! thank you!

[Hyalucent]

The latest update is that Colin Powell is stepping in.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news/1051780526311610.xml

[igotthisguitar]

>. Class move and kudos to Mr. Powell
Let's hope we get the straight goods on this one.

[Ajarn Miguk]

The family is obviously not without influence and knows how to play the game. Getting the senior and very influential U.S. Senator from Alabama to confront Sec. Powell with the issue during an important Senate committee hearing is exactly how one should play the game.

If the truth ever comes out, it will come out because the heat is on some people who can put the heat on other people, even some people in Korea.

My prayers are with the family and know they will never stop in their desire to find out what really happened to their loved one on the day he was to return to them and they were to hold him in their arms.

[PootyTang]

I'd like to see a web site built in his memory.

[Ajarn Miguk]

Not a bad idea, PootyTang. I hope it happens.

For my part, I believe every American ESL teacher in Korea should email his or her U.S. Senators and Representative and demand an inquiry into and explanation for the untimely demise of a fellow American and ESL teacher. I already did. I figured it was the least I could do.

The truth needs to come out, whatever it is. If there is nothing to hide, no one should be afraid of it. And if they are afraid of it, it begs the obvious question, why?

[cubase]