Kim Woo-young's Gwanggyo Column "There is Only One 'Eternal Mayor of Suwon'!"

On the 14th, I visited the grave of the late Suwon Mayor Sim Jae-deok in Duchangli, Yongin. That day marked his 17th memorial.

Since I had a slight cold, I dressed warmly and even put on winter boots that my brother-in-law had bought me a few years ago.

Since the memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m., I met with Dr. Seo Ju-ho, vice chairman of the Hwaseong Research Association, at 9:40 a.m., loaded a wreath, and departed toward the grave site.

Arriving about 30 minutes early, I found that the bereaved family, including his wife Sun Jeong-seon and son Sim Young-chan, as well as officials from the memorial project committee including Haewoojae Director Lee Won-hyung, were already preparing for the memorial service.

The path to the grave site was quite steep, and since the snow had not melted, we had to climb carefully.

Last year, about 50 people attended, but this year only about 20 came. Since local elections are scheduled for June, those with political connections were not invited. According to Haewoojae Director Lee Won-hyung, contact was made only to those who were very close to the deceased during his lifetime, resulting in a smaller attendance.

One attendee said, "To me, the 'Eternal Mayor of Suwon' is only Mayor Sim Jae-deok!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

Before the memorial service, Sim Young-chan, the eldest son, said he would host lunch on the 16th.

"I sincerely apologize for not being able to attend the unveiling ceremony of the restoration guidance plaque for Hwaseong Haenggung Palace held on December 18th last year and the talk concert commemorating the publication of the book 'Meeting Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace Again.' Together with his mother, Sun Jeong-seon, we would like to offer a modest lunch," he explained.

That day was a significant occasion marking the completion of the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace restoration project that had begun 35 years ago. An unveiling ceremony for a guidance plaque recording the restoration process, the people who participated in the restoration project with shared purpose—namely, the executives, directors, and members of the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace Restoration Promotion Committee—and a talk concert commemorating the publication of the book "Meeting Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace Again" were held.

At that time, committee members Lee Hong-gu (director), Song Chul-ho (general affairs director), Lim Byung-ho (planning director), Kim Woo-young (public relations director), and Kim Dong-wook (advisor for Hwaseong Haenggung Palace phases 1-2), as well as Jeon Heung-seop (then director of the Suwon Culture Center), who worked hard on the project, attended. (Related article: Suwon Ilbo, December 23, 2025, [Kim Woo-young's Gwanggyo Column] Mayor Sim Jae-deok Called Our Names "You all worked hard restoring the palace")

Thus, on the 16th, the surviving members who had actively participated in the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace restoration with Mayor Sim Jae-deok 35 years ago gathered again.

Before the meal, a tea gathering was arranged. Stories recounting Mayor Sim's achievements and human warmth during his lifetime followed one after another.

Kim Sang-yong, the former outreach director who could not attend the unveiling ceremony and talk concert, also joined, and after a long time, we were finally "complete." Of course, we were not entirely complete. Among us, Lee Seung-eon, the former head of historical research compilation, who had passed away in the meantime, was missing.

Kim Sang-yong, now in his early 80s, smiled with a laugh while eating, saying, "If Lee Seung-eon had been here, other people would not have had a chance to speak..." His words carried a longing for his departed brother Lee Seung-eon. Kim Sang-yong and Lee Seung-eon were the same age and were, in modern terms, "best friends."

After the meal, we each received gifts from his wife and son Sim.

As we parted, we exchanged warm wishes that we would live long—to 90 or 100 years old—so that we could raise our glasses in memory of Mayor Sim.

The bust of Mayor Sim in front of Haewoojae seemed to smile as it watched us.