Years of plans eclipsed in an instant
Widow has fallen into financial challenges since her husband’s death in Yonge St. van attack
It was supposed to be a “really big year” for Chul Min “Eddie” Kang and his wife, So Min Kim.
“We promised each other we were going to open a restaurant … and we were planning to have a baby, maybe,” Kim said. “Everything was there.”
But their plans, years in the making, were derailed permanently when a white van mounted the sidewalks of Yonge St., killing Kang and leaving his wife of 14 years a widow.
Ten people died and 16 were injured when driver mowed down pedestrians on Yonge St. between Finch and Shepphard Aves. last month. Alek Minassian, who appeared in court Thursday morning, is charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.
In the weeks since the rampage, Kim has had to cover immediate expenses — flights for family members living abroad and a funeral — while coping with the loss of her husband, who had brought in the bulk of the family income.
Sandra Train, an associate at Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP in Toronto, has been retained to help Kim navigate the aftermath of the van rampage.
Train set up a GoFundMe on Thursday to help Kim offset costs that have accumulated since her husband’s death. “She’s having issues now, like ‘Where am I going to get money for anything?’ ” Train said.
Kim was hesitant to set up a fundraiser, but Train told her that it was a more immediate solution to her financial woes than waiting for other funds to be fully disbursed. Train said the couple did not have insurance.
The distribution details of the first $500,000 of the $2.8 million raised by the Toronto Strong fund were announced last week. Victims will receive up to $15,000 for each of the 10 funerals, up to $10,000 for travel and accommodation for each family, up to $200 a week for food, parking and taxis, $500 for clothing and $200 for cellphone costs for international families.
Kim says she has received $5,000 toward Kang’s funeral and $800 toward food and cell phone service. “Right now, everything is kind of pending,” Kim said.
Andrea Martinelli, a city of Toronto spokesperson said, “We recognize the extreme hardships faced by Mrs. Kang and all the families of those killed and injured on April 23.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected. We are committed to working in partnership with Victim Services Toronto to ensure that these families receive the philanthropic support available through the #TorontoStrong Fund as quickly as possible.”
Each family has been assigned a case worker “who is working with them to manage the distribution of these funds,” Martinelli said.
Train said her client has been in touch with a victim services case worker.
Victim Services Toronto was unable to comment about individual clients “due to our obligations to maintain confidentiality,” executive director Bonnie Levine said in an email.
“Victim Services Toronto is expending the first portion of the money from The Toronto Foundation #TorontoStrong Fund to pay for direct costs of funerals or repatriation up to a maximum of $15,000 per funeral or repatriation” for the deceased, Levine said. The exact cost of the funeral is being paid directly to the funeral home. Kim was in South Korea when she learned of the incident that took her husband’s life.
“My friend, she linked a Toronto Star article,” Kim recalled. “And she said, you call me now.” Immediate details of Kang’s condition were unclear because he had no next of kin in Toronto.
“We were not sure whether he was injured or seriously injured or dead. For me, death was not an option. So I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to fly back and (check) whether he’s okay or not.’ I was so devastated.”
Kim took the first flight possible back to Canada, arriving in Toronto on the Thursday after the Monday attack.
Kang’s funeral last Friday was attended by 80 people.
It cost $16,000.Some family members living in Korea could not attend because of finances, Train said.
“I felt very warm, because everybody shared memories together,” Kim said.
One memory that stands out in Kim’s mind was her snowy, January birthday. Kang put on his jacket and boots to go outside in the wind and snow, and Kim protested “‘Where are you going? It’s my birthday’ … I was ready to fight,” she said with a laugh.
Kang returned with a “huge cake, a rainbow cake.” It was a 45-minute walk to the store since streetcars were down in the inclement weather.
“It was his plan,” Kim said with a smile. “He wanted to surprise me.”