Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Oldtimer]

I have heard that the gentleman who went by the name of Yu Bum Suk on Dave's ESL Cafe, and other similar websites, passed away in 2015. It's my understanding that he died suddenly in his apartment. I do not know the cause of death. Yu Bum Suk was Canadian (British Columbia) but was, apparently, teaching in New Zealand at the time of his death.

He and I were friends in Korea. We met several times and he stayed over at my apartment in Seoul once or twice. He actually lived near Daegu. I left Korea in 2009 and he didn't use Facebook, so we lost touch, unfortunately. I was very shocked and saddened by his untimely death. He was a little older than me - so approximately 40. I cannot find any information on the Internet (using his real name) about his death.

[swashbuckler]

I remember him. I met him one time in person because he was staying in Seoul with another guy who I knew on here who used to post under the name SPINOZA. I think his real name was Stephen (?). He taught at girls public school out in the sticks. I think he graduated with an MA in History from Washington University, right? How did you hear he died?

[swashbuckler]

Oh yeah, then you must be spinoza right, cause I also remember you were from England. I'm the guy who used to post here under the name adventureman. you and I and that other poster quinella hung out a few times in Seoul together. Do you remember me IRL?

[creeper1]

40 is too young to die. Rip

[catman]

Quinella's name was Shane right?

[swashbuckler]

Yes

[PatrickGHBusan]

R.I.P. Yum Bum Suk.

That is far too young an age to die.

My sympathies to his family and friends.

[Yaya]

Sad to hear, geez.

[Milwaukiedave]

40 is way too young to die. RIP

[ghostrider]

I heard his death was a suicide, and that he was banned from teaching in Korea. Someone found out that the language of instruction in his university degree program was French and informed kimmi.

[Oldtimer]

^That doesn't jive with what else I've been hearing. I won't divulge what else it is I've heard, as it was sent to me in a PM. However, to my knowledge, YBS did not attend a Francophone university (he may not have attended a Canadian university at all) and was not a bilingual Canadian. I cannot rule out a suicide, as the cause of death in unknown.

[ghostrider]

^The University of Ottawa has the option to take all your classes in French. If he was the same person as Yu_BumSuk on the other board then he most certainly was bilingual. Found with google:

Yu_Bumsuk: When I lived in the US and had a French girlfriend we use to talk merde[sh*t] about Americans right beside them all the time. It's only karma if the Koreans on the bus make mention of the stinky whitey sitting across from them.


Yu_Bumsuk: Yes, as a matter a fact I do. C'est tres utile quand on veut avoir une conversation au des choses vilaines pres des femmes anglaises.

[Oldtimer]

Wow, okay. I remember YBS saying he was proficient in French (like most Canadians), but not bilingual. I don't recall what university he went to, other than in the US (I think St. Louis), but that might've been just postgraduate. In any case, if true that he was banned from teaching in Korea on the basis that he went to a French-speaking university, I have two totally different stories about what happened to him.

[Stain]

I don't want be an asshole Oldtimer, but have you verified this death? This whole thread is draped in ambiguity.

[Oldtimer]

I have not. That's kind of the point of the thread, really.