[The Editors' Verdict] The Year-End That Brings to Mind Ahn Junggeun's Calligraphy

The death of an individual can leave a message for society. This is not limited to the passing of celebrities; even the stories of ordinary people can offer important lessons. The incident that occurred on October 16 was such a case. In an apartment in Yeonjae-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, a mother and daughter, burdened by hundreds of millions of won in debt, made an extreme choice.

Ms. A, a woman in her 80s, and her daughter, Ms. B, in her 50s?why did they choose to end their lives together? The reasons were detailed in three handwritten farewell letters. They wrote that their economic hardship made it impossible to continue living. Despite their difficult circumstances, the mother and daughter left behind a considerable sum of money.

The 8 million won found in a drawer in the master bedroom was set aside for their funeral expenses. Separately, 400,000 won intended for apartment maintenance fees was placed in an envelope along with the letters. Even in their final moments, they tried not to burden others, revealing the depth of their character.

The collapse of this once-harmonious family was linked to the death of Ms. B’s father. As the head of the household, he passed away, leaving behind massive debts. The family tried to pay off these debts, but their lives grew increasingly desperate. Eventually, they found themselves in a situation where they saw no other way out.

What makes this case especially tragic is that the tragedy could have been avoided if only the legal safety net had functioned properly. It is easy to assume that when a family member dies leaving substantial debt, the surviving family must bear the entire burden. However, current law provides safeguards.

It is possible to renounce inheritance, or to use the "limited approval" system, where debts are paid only within the scope of inherited assets. This is a right guaranteed by Article 1019 of the Civil Act. The problem is that this system cannot be used at any time; legal procedures must be initiated within three months of becoming aware that inheritance has commenced.

On February 14, 2020, citizens visiting the Ahn Junggeun Memorial Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, are viewing the exhibits. Ahn Junggeun was sentenced to death and died for the country 42 days later, on March 26 of the same year. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Some people miss the window to apply for limited approval because they are overwhelmed by shock and grief after losing a loved one. Others are not even aware of the system due to a lack of legal knowledge. Such individuals end up shouldering unmanageable debts left by their family members, falling into a pit of despair. One wonders what might have happened if someone around them had informed them about the renunciation of inheritance (limited approval) system during their difficult times.

The death of the Gwangju mother and daughter reflects the reality of Korean society in 2023. A society that is insensitive to the concerns and pain of others brings unhappiness to everyone.

The Gwangju incident also resonates with this year’s representative four-character idiom. Professors nationwide selected "Gyeonlimangui" (見利忘義) as the idiom of the year, which means "forgetting righteousness in pursuit of profit"?a shameful reality.

Ahn Junggeun left behind a calligraphic work with the phrase "Gyeonlisaeui" (見利思義), which means "when you see profit, think of righteousness." This was his personal commitment. While great figures in history risked their lives to practice Gyeonlisaeui, it is shameful that people today pursue Gyeonlimangui instead.

Kim Byungki, an emeritus professor at Jeonbuk National University who recommended the idiom of the year, sharply remarked, "It seems the entire nation has become a battleground where everyone is left to fend for themselves." Can we allow the sorrowful shadow of every-man-for-himself to crush our lives?

Reviving the spark of "righteousness" in a society tainted by selfishness?this may be an act that saves someone’s life. In that sense, Ahn Junggeun’s calligraphy delivers a powerful message to our society as we await the year of Gapjin (甲辰年) in 2024.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.