In our busy lives, we struggle with our relationships with friends, become obsessed with getting good grades, and worry about our future. With the flow of time, we tend to forget the fact that we will all die someday, somehow. Unlike us, however, there are people who patiently wait for death. They say that they are ready to end their lives with happiness and gratitude. To unveil the secrets of their resolve, two Ewha Voice reporters visited the Saem-mul Hospice located in Yongin,
Founded in 1993, Saem-mul Hospice is the first center in
As it was founded by a church, religious services are held twice a day, at
“The reason why people here have such a happy face is because we consider death as a way to get closer to the Lord. Death is not a period to a person’s life, but a comma that proceeds to glorious eternity,” said Gye Gwang-won, who works at the center and take responsibility in managing the center.
A hospice is a shelter, not only for the patients, but also for the patients’ families who also go through a hard time. “It is easy to feel frustrated and depressed by the illness of a family member. Therefore, having a rest is also important to the patient’s family members,” says Mun. The center has facilities such as a shower room, computer room, aroma and physical therapy room, prayer room, and programs teaching gardening and drawing for the families as well as patients.
One elderly patient laid in her bed, asking a volunteer to get her some water. But no trace of fear or death can be found on her face. “When I was sick at home, I was scared that death was getting closer to me. For me, this center is like a heaven and I feel like I finally found some peace. Now, I am not afraid of dying because the Lord is to be with me when I die.” said the patient.
Volunteers at Saem-mul Hospice are educated for six weeks and have additional trainings for 48 hours before becoming a regular volunteer. “I have been working here as a volunteer for three years. At first, I was so afraid of seeing people die, which made me feel depressed for a while. However, while working here, I came to think about what life means to me, how to live the rest of my life and how to prepare for my own death,” said a 57-year-old volunteer, who wanted to remain anonymous.
There are also some irregular volunteers who work from time to time. “Death always seemed irrelevant to me. However, when I saw a patient who was only nine suffering from cancer, I realized that anyone can die suddenly,” explained volunteer Kwak Eun-hye (
Saem-mul Hospice is also planning to receive patients who are suffering from AIDS. By expanding the range of patients they are taking care of, Saem-mul Hospice will continue to be a shelter that helps people face death peacefully.
By Kim A-hyun