Three Family Tragedies, a Community in Mourning

After so much glittering news about wealthy Koreans and their enterprises in Los Angeles, it was heart-wrenching to read the articles about three Korean families that were devastated by horrific murders (“The Fathers,” by Mona Gable, Oct. 29). I remember news reports at the time of the murders, but these articles gave depth to the stories.

If whatever killed the hearts of these husbands and fathers is more widespread than can be imagined, then may the Korean community step in to acknowledge it and start the healing process. And may we non-Koreans be awakened to the terrible suffering experienced by too many Korean women and children and help however we can.

Damiana Chavez

Los Angeles

Kudos to Erika Hayasaki (“The Daughter,” Oct. 29) and Mona Gable for their informative articles on a topic that has haunted me my whole life. I am of Asian descent and experienced enough mental and physical violence growing up that I decided to seek help. I am changing my cultural perception of domestic violence (as acceptable and a show of love) to finding ways to recognize the triggers and practice nonviolent ways to achieve the same result. Cultural awareness is a good start.

Taking action to address these issues will require a variety of resources, support from many people and, above all, patience, love and forgiveness.

Pualani Ober

North Hollywood

My heart was heavy and my eyes teary as I read the articles about the Korean American family murders in April. They were difficult to get through.

However, I can’t emphasize how glad I am that these problems are now being exposed. It forces families, churches, communities and the media to confront a problem that is clearly too painful to ignore.

We can sadly nod our heads in grief and disbelief, or we can decide that it’s no longer acceptable to allow behavior like this to take away families--especially our children. I applaud the magazine for publishing this article. I’m moved to tears as well as action.

Suzie Chung Nelson

Glendale

I was about to set down the story of Sun Ma, whose husband has been accused of murdering their children, when I came to one particular sentence: “The children had never had a [Christmas] tree, because their father was a Jehovah’s Witness.” Any man or woman who may have displayed such vile and disgusting actions is not a Jehovah’s Witness. Witnesses believe wholeheartedly what the Bible requires: to be a loving, moral, humble, caring individual with self-control, and one who would not treat his wife as inferior.

If Dae Kwon Yun had been a Jehovah’s Witness at one point in his life, he certainly was not one if he acted out of harmony with their Bible-based Christian beliefs. As a former atheist, I had many misconceptions about what Jehovah’s Witnesses do and believe. Being a Witness is an active choice one must make, and if Yun acted contrary to his faith, he is not a Jehovah’s Witness.

Lisa Brady

Burbank