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▲ When he died, the sky was so brilliant. Pray for the souls of him.
Poem in memory of village headman Choi Chun-ho
Kim, Yonghan
We prepare for 12.11 Peace March following his last words,
And plant garlic and barley for next year’s farming.
.
.
We, stay here,
In the memory of the days with him
Plant garlic yesterday,
Plant barley tomorrow,
Prepare for the next year’s farming.
Following his wishes
We will surely block the expansion of the U.S. base.
You,
There,
Where no U.S. bases exists
Please give us power.
We love you so much.
Now is the time to let you go.
Don’t worry about here
We pray for the repose of you,
Our village headman, Choi Chun-ho
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Letter to my friend Choi Chunho, who regretfully left this world
You, my precious friend,
What can I do without you!
God is so cruel, why he took you so early!
I cannot still believe that you are gone.
Please, get up again,
You are not old enough to leave the world. Why are you lying there?
Let us go to Pengseong.
I still remember your angry face two years ago, when you heard the news that the U.S. base in Penseoung would be expanded. So didn’t you rush about trying to establish the committee to block its expansion? The Pengseoung Measure Committee against Expansion of US Military base was created by such efforts of you, and it is still fighting hard. At that time, you were suffering from cancer, but never expressed your pain to other people.!
After the establishment of the committee, we had meeting everyday, How busy we have been with so many works! But you never missed any single meeting. I advised you to have a rest, but you wouldn’t listen to me. I’ve never seen such obstinate man like you! Two years ago, in winter you came to the mud hut almost everyday. You protected our land against the ministry of the defense. And last year, you stood at the front and successfully blocked their attempts to break into our land illegally. Then you were taken to the police station. Yes, how can they be so evil? It is they who are wrong, but they take innocent people!
When you enter hospital last time, I was so worried about you. They said that you might not be recovered again, but you won! So I also believed that you would get better again, but now you’re not here…
It is so regrettable that we should let you go. Other people also weep tears saying that you were such a nice guy.
But what can we do! Now we must let you go.
Please go to the good place and have a rest peacefully.
We will fight much harder. In order not to make your efforts vain to block the expansion of the U.S. bases. See what we are doing here. When we finally win, you should also come down and join the party. That day we will enjoy ourselves together.
My friend Choi, Chun ho
Good- bye
Your friend, Kim, Young-o
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