Adventist Food Factory Rushed to Assist Bereaved Families in South Korea

Sahmyook Foods, a Seventh-day Adventist food company in South Korea, is providing assistance and support to the bereaved families of the December 29 plane crash at Muan International Airport. A local Adventist school, which lost two students in the crash, is also creating special memorials to commemorate the deceased. 

As of December 31, officials continue to identify the victims of the plane crash, including those who were Seventh-day Adventist members and those who were connected in other ways to the church. 

As of 4:00 p.m. on December 31, it is understood that three family members, Mr. and Mrs. Kim and their son, an employee of Sahmyook Foods who also attended Gwangju International Seventh-day Adventist Church, were on the plane. It has been reported that although the bodies have been identified, they have not yet been recovered from the wreckage. 

Two siblings were in the second and third grades of Honam Samyuk Middle School, were also on the plane with their parents. 

A member of the Gwangju Light church also lost his life. He was a parent of a student at Gwangju Sahmyook Elementary School. Additionally, a deacon who lives in the Jangseong area lost his brother in the plane crash. 

Support for the Bereaved Families 

Sahmyook Foods, led by CEO Kwang Jin Chon, is providing assistance and follow-up support to the bereaved family members. Sahmyook Foods administrators expressed their deep sorrow and condolences to the families and are discussing how to better support them, especially those connected to the company. 

Kwang, who heard the news while attending the general meeting of the Middlewest Korean Conference, immediately rushed to the accident site at Muan International Airport to comfort the grieving families. 

Sahmyook Foods is located in Gwangju. Through the company distributor in the Jeonnam region and the booth of ADRA Korea’s Honam branch, which is carrying out volunteer activities at the airport, they were able to supply necessary items such as soy milk. Additionally, staff members were sent to help the bereaved families. 

On December 31, Kwang visited Cheonan City Hall to express his condolences. It was reported that the Sahmyook Foods employee who lost his life was the only member of the Middlewest Korean Conference among the 179 victims. 

Sahmyook Foods posted a memorial banner inside the company facility, and all employees visited the Cheonan joint branch office to commemorate the deceased. In addition, the company plans to communicate with stakeholders to discuss further procedures and remedial measures. 

Led by principal Young Dug Ko, Honam Sahmyook Middle School installed an incense burner on its campus to commemorate the students and their parents who lost their lives in the crash. In South Korea, incense burning is a common practice during social, religious, and state ceremonies. 

“We are preparing an incense burner in the corner of the playground,” school leaders said. “We plan to run it from tomorrow (Wednesday, January 1) until Saturday (January 4). It will be opened daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 6:00 p.m. next Saturday.” 

School leaders added that “special counseling will be held for students and teachers who are grieving the loss of their dear friends and students.” The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is actively supporting the initiative. 

Funeral arrangements are pending as all the bodies have not yet been recovered. When they are recovered, they will be taken to Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital.

The original version of the story was posted on the Korean Union Conference news site.