Funeral and Medical Expense for Korean Students

UPDATE:

Friends-

Thank you all for your donations and prayers for the two students.

Thanks to your support, Young’s family was able to arrive in Iowa to meet Young for the last time. They are taking him home to Korea.

Myung had two surgeries past week and recovering. Doctors are hopeful he will recover and to be able to start walking this week.

Please keep them in your thoughts and share this campaign with your friends and contacts.

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On the night of August 5th, 2023, best friends, Myung Jo Kang (26) and Young Seok Moon (27), were chatting with friends on Discord about their weekend plans. Myung and Young were roommates and teased others in the chat room about how much fun the two were having together. They were fulfilling their college internship requirements before the fall semester began at Iowa State University. They were to return to campus that weekend.

This was Young's last conversation with his friends. Late that evening, Myung and Young were in a tragic car accident that killed Young. Myung was flown into Des Moines, Iowa with life-threatening injuries.

Myung experienced head and facial trauma and is scheduled to have surgery later in the week. Doctors predict it will take months for him to recover.

Young's family heard the news of their son/brother in the middle of the night in South Korea. The family is yet to arrive to see their son/sibling one last time before cremation.

The Korean and Ames/Des Moines communities are grieving with the Young family as we are supporting Myung's family with recovery plans.

On behalf of the two families, KASI requests your support in raising money for the families of these two young Koreans.

Half of your contributions will go to the cremation service and funeral for Young, transportation of his ashes, and travel costs for his Korean family to and from Korea. The other half will go to Myung's medical and recovery costs as well as support for his mother who will stay in the US until he is fully recovered to go back to Iowa State University to finish his degree in Mechanical Engineering. The funds will be equally distributed to the two familes.

Please donate what you can, send us your loving memories of Young and encouragements for Myung, share the GoFundMe page, and most importantly, pray for the families.

In memory of Young:

"영석아, 큰 키에 꿀성대를 갖었던 너는 속으로는 생각도 많고 고민도 많았었지. 하지만 밖으로는 많이 웃고, 때로는 과묵하다가도 주변을 밝혀주는 따뜻한 친구였다. 아이들에게도 따뜻하고 잘 놀아주는 재미있는 삼촌이었지. 특히 좋은 목소리를 가지고 있어서 말할 때, 찬양팀에서 함께 찬양할 때 참 듣기 좋았어. 함께했던 모든 순간이 귀했고 고맙다."

"영석이는 형누나들에게 환하게 웃으며 먼저 다가가는 사랑스러운 동생이었고, 또래친구들과 동생들을 잘 돌아보는 든든한 친구이자 형이자 오빠였습니다. 자신의 삶에 대해 진중하게 고민하고, 자신의 결정에 스스로 끝까지 책임을 지며, 맡겨진 것들에 성실히 임하던 청년이었습니다. 영석이를 사랑하는 사람들과 있을 때, 서로 장난치며 예쁜 눈웃음과 함께 호탕하게 웃던 영석이가 눈에 선하고 보고싶습니다."

"언제나 예의바른 친구였고, 동생들과 형들을 모두 잘 챙기는 모습이 기억납니다. 또 흥이 많아서 주변사람들을 웃게 해주는 모습이 아름다웠습니다."

"영석이는 진지하게 자신의 미래를 고민하면서도 긍적적이었어요. 사회학에서 통계학으로 전공을 바꿔가며 공부할 때도 긍정적이어서 '어려운데 해봐야죠' 라며 상황을 긍정적으로 보았죠. 종종 통계학 공부 어때? 물어보며 어떻게 지내는지 안부를 물었을때도 늘 밝은 얼굴로 '잘해봐야죠' 라고 대답했었지요. 또 교회서 함께 성경공부 할때도 자신의 생각을 정리해서 말하기도 하고 고개를 끄덕거리며 반응하며 하나님에 대해서 잘 배워갔어요."

"영석이형은 마주칠때마다 항상 잘지내냐고 안부를 물어봐주신게 항상 감사 했고 찬양팀에서 싱어로 같이 했던 기억이 있네요. 영석이형의 가지고 있던 미소와 친절함이 생각날것같습니다."

“영석이는 참 밝은 친구였습니다. 언제 봐도 늘 환한 미소로 반갑게 맞아주는 친구였고, 장난기도 많아 함께 있으면 웃게 되는 그런 재밌고, 착한 친구였습니다.”

"What I will miss the most about Young is his positive energy to make smile others. With his positive energy, he was passionate about sharing his energy to others who are in need."