Korean community united amid rampage aftermath
People in Toronto’s Korean community say they are devastated by the van rampage on Yonge St., near Finch Ave., a heavily Korean neighbourhood, but in the face of tragedy they are staying strong and coming together to help friends and families of victims.
“It’s definitely a really difficult time for the community, and it’s very unfortunate, but at the same time, I think the Korean community really stayed strong together,” said Shine Jiyoun Chung, the executive director of KWCA Family and Social Service, a non-profit organization that provides services to the city’s Korean community.
“I think Korean people are really concerned, because the Korean community is one of the main presences in the (area).”
Koreans make up 1.5 per cent of Toronto’s population, according to Statistics Canada, but make up more than 13 per cent in the strip of Yonge St. from Finch Ave. to Sheppard Ave. where on Monday a white van hit pedestrians, killing 10 and injuring 14.
South Korean’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement there “are a total of five Korean citizens among the victims, two deaths and three seriously injured.” The statement did not identify any of the victims. The Star has since confirmed Sohe Chung, a 22-year-old student at the University of Toronto, died in the incident.
Many people in the Korean community attended the memorial for the victims at Olive Square on Thursday.
“It was so hard for me to come out today, I just want to give my prayers to the victims and their families,” said Sandy Park, who lives and works near Yonge and Finch.
“This is pretty much the area I’ve always grown up in,” said James Ahn, who also attended the memorial. “It’s so devastating because I always thought this area was safe.”
Melissa Jung said she was across the street from the van rampage when it happened. “I was on the other side of the street, where I never am, at lunch time, so I feel blessed,” she said. She was touched by the “love and diversity” she witnessed at the memorial.
“This is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen happen to our neighbourhood,” said Stan Cho, a candidate in the PC party in the Willowdale riding. “My entire family lives there, I grew up there, my campaign office is there, my business office is there, it’s my home.”
Cho said the Korean community is tight-knit. “It’s hard to find even one degree of separation between us,” he said. “It’s almost certain we’re going to know some of the people who were impacted by this.”
Peter Yi, a pastor at Young Nak Presbyterian Church, said many of his parishioners are from the Yonge and Finch area.
“We’ve been dealing with this the way the rest of the city has been dealing with it, personally grieving” he said. “We’re grieving as a church community.”
A vigil will be held Friday at Mel Lastman Square hosted by the Korean Canadian Cultural Association.