Moon Ji-yoon's dad grateful for outpouring of grief

Late South Korean actor Moon Ji-yoon.

SEOUL • Late South Korean actor Moon Ji-yoon's agency, Family Ent, shared on Monday a letter written by his father, Mr Moon Kwang-suk.

According to South Korean online platform Naver, the three-page handwritten letter expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of public grief.

"It has already been three days since I suddenly had to send my son to heaven. I still cannot believe what has happened and my heavy heart is aching. But I will try to exert myself for the many people who grieved, cried and suffered with us during Ji-yoon's funeral rites," he wrote.

Moon died last Wednesday at age 36 from acute septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning. He made his debut in the 2002 K-drama Romance and went on to appear in productions such as the popular 2016 series Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.

In the letter, his father shared about Moon's aspirations and favourite activities. "Since middle school, Ji-yoon said he wanted to be an actor. The acting school was far from our house, so during his walks there, he would practise his pronunciation and vocalisation."

He also wrote about his son's love of basketball and drawing.

The Moon family had planned to hold the funeral in a quiet ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was grateful that many people still came to pay their respects.

"Thank you for making Ji-yoon's final journey less lonely," Mr Moon wrote. "We sent Ji-yoon off with the things he loved most when he was alive. The car he liked, the script he liked, the music he liked, and coffee and milk tea. I believe he was happy and not lonely in his final journey and is now safely with God."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 25, 2020, with the headline Moon Ji-yoon's dad grateful for outpouring of grief. Subscribe