3 members of Toronto’s Korean community were killed in Monday’s devastating van attack.
According to CBC, Toronto’s Korean community is mourning after 3 of its members were killed after a van drove into pedestrians on one of the Canadian city’s busiest streets.
10 people in total were killed in Monday’s devastating attack, including Sohe Chung, 22, Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, 45, and Ji Hun Kim, 22, from the Korean community. Chung and Kim were reportedly the youngest killed.
A vigil was held on Friday by the Korean Canadian Cultural Association for the three victims. Hundreds gathered with electronic candles to pay tribute at Mel Lastman Square on Yonge Street, where the incident occurred. The area is home to a large Korean community.
“What hurts most, the future they came to Canada for and all of a sudden this happens to them, as a parent, to have a child abroad, I can only imagine the pain they are going through,” said Daniel Lee, president of the Korean Cultural Association. “It’s heartbreaking.”
“We need to move on. We need to face the fact that it did happen,” said Lee. “We wish it never did happen, but there’s no way you can make sense of this.”
“Words cannot describe what they are going through right now. We are doing all we can to support them,” he added.
Sohe Chung was studying a bachelor of science in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Toronto whilst working at luxury retailer Holt Renfrew.
“[Chung] was a beautiful person and well-liked by her friends,” said one of Chung’s family members. “She had big dreams of doing something for society … She was a very nice person.”
Chul Min (Eddie) Kang was a chef at a steakhouse restaurant named Copacabana. His wife is in Korea.
Ji Hun Kim was a South Korean international student at Seneca College. Her parents went straight to Toronto after hearing about their only child’s death but were too shaken to attend the vigil.
Another public vigil, #TorontoStrong, is scheduled to be held on Sunday for all the victims at Mel Lastman Square.
