hankyoreh

This is a translation of a Korean-language article contributed to The Hankyoreh’s blog by a South Korean graduate student at Virginia Tech.

The massacre, which has devastated U.S. society, happened at my school, at a building less than 100 meters from where I live.

I cannot believe such a brutal accident took place at Blacksburg, a city which is known as a peaceful and safe place. Moreover, my professors and friends were among the dead.

One South Korean student was also shot and is in a hospital. Fortunately, the student was only lightly wounded, and we talked to each other at the hospital last night. However, I can’t figure out how such a thing happened. Out of 15 friends who have taken classes with me, only three were said to have gotten up after the shootings. It seems that the rest have been lost.

My professor, who came to the U.S. from India. Brian and Matt, who used to give their best regards to me and my family with a smile. Partahi, from Indonesia, who used to earn his tuition fees by working at the campus library. Waleed, from Egypt, with whom I shared a greeting at an international street festival on the previous day. These friends are all gone.

It is said that nobody knows when he or she will die, but it is unbelievable how such a terrible thing has happened in my circle of friends.

When I came home this morning, the news reports said a Korean-American committed the massacre. After hearing the news, I felt as if I were also guilty myself, because my fellow countryman did such a cruel thing. I began to worry about the safety of South Korean students and their families in the United States. I felt utterly miserable.

This afternoon, a memorial event attended by many people, including U.S. President George Bush, took place on campus. A group of students from South Korea took part in the mourning. The injured South Korean student also joined the ceremony. I, however, felt uncomfortable [due to my ethnicity] and felt discouraged while walking alone toward my building after the event.

The school and department are totally shattered. There is a concern about the safety of Korean students. I am at a loss for what to do from now on. I am going to gather myself and visit school tomorrow, but it is true that I still feel very uncomfortable. The deaths of a professor and many friends followed by the shock that the criminal was a Korean-American. How will I be able to overcome these two things in the future? In fact, I don’t know what I will say when I meet professors and other friends tomorrow.

Most Americans will think reasonably, but there will certainly be some who will bear hatred towards Koreans. There is nothing else for us Koreans to do but to go forward and face them with open hearts.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]