Tragic Death of Director Kim Chang-min: Assault Incident and Organ Donation Legacy

The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of director Kim Chang-min, who saved four lives through organ donation last November, have recently come to light.

According to a report by a media outlet on the 31st, Director Kim visited a restaurant in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, with his son on the morning of October 20th last year.

The family explained that Kim's son, who has autism, suddenly wanted to eat pork cutlet, prompting them to visit a 24-hour restaurant. During their meal, a physical altercation occurred with another patron over noise issues. Kim was punched and fell to the ground, and despite being taken to a nearby hospital within an hour, he ultimately passed away.

The police applied for an arrest warrant twice for the assailant, identified as Mr. A, but both requests were denied. Last week, Mr. A was finally charged without detention.

The family expressed their frustration, stating, "The entire process, from the initial response to the punishment of the perpetrator, was inadequate, and the suspect is still freely roaming the streets."

Kim's sister shared on his social media, "On October 20th, my brother collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage and, despite our family's desperate hopes, never regained consciousness. After being declared brain-dead on November 7th, he donated his organs, giving four people precious new lives before joining the Lord."

Director Kim Chang-min, who passed away at the age of 40, was known for directing works such as 'Someone's Daughter' and 'Exit 3 of Guui Station.' He also contributed to the art teams of films like 'The Fortress,' 'Keys to the Heart,' 'The Witch,' 'The Witness,' 'Drug King,' 'Forbidden Dream,' 'The Closet,' 'Waiting for Rain,' and 'Firefighter.'

Reporter Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr