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| JULY 17, 2002 THE TRAGEDY AT SURAK MOUNTAIN It started on a calm morning. AMG had decided to take a company retreat at Mount Surak on the outskirts of Seoul. Michael Kwon, Mia J. Paek, Montgomery Paek, and Hyang Suk Kwon got together at the base of the mountain and prepared for what they thought would be a relaxing walk through nature. However, soon they would all learn that in nature, it truly is survival of the fittest and Surak Mountain is not kind to the weak... |
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| The Group: (from left to right) Michael Kwon, Mia J. Paek, Montgomery Paek, and Hyang Suk Kwon. So the group was ready to go on a company retreat which the girls had been pushing to have for a long time. Montgomery hates the outdoors and having a social life in general, so he did not want to go. However his wife, Mia has great influence in the dark side of the Force and can easily sway the weak-minded. Michael was not enthusiastic either and warned "I'll go, but I might die." His words were simply laughed at, but perhaps he was right. |
| Mia and Montgomery pose at a rest stop along the trail. The group soon learned that although they had trekked for an hour, they were no where near the top of the mountain. Soon happiness faded to despair. The group realized that climbing the mountain was not as easy as they had thought. Ironically, although Montgomery had complained the most, he led the way of the group. Michael and Hyang Suk were overcome with fatigue and they took various breaks which grew longer and longer. As Mia and Montgomery went ahead, they realized that the others were getting farther and farther behind. Michael and Hyang Suk were exhausted and at their breaking point. |
| Finally, tragedy struck. Michael Kwon, president of the company, went down. He was overcome by the pain and did not want to continue. Even though the group pleaded with him. He had lost all will to go on. He said, "I'll stay here and read a book" in a solemn grim tone. The group was worried. Was Michael okay? His face was flush and his limbs had no signs of movement. The mood had turned from exhaustion to sadness for the fallen leader. |
| "Don't take my picture", Michael uttered in his fatigued and tired voice. However his warning fell on deaf ears as Montgomery photographed Michael's desparate state. The group had to make a decision. Go on, or turn back. If the group headed back, they could go back together, but they would have not conquered the mountain. Valiantly, Hyang Suk said she wanted to continue. She had been struggling as much as Michael. But sonehow she found the will to go on. "Just go ahead of me" Hyang Suk said to Montgomery and Mia, "I'll catch up with you." And with that, the group continued up the mountain. |
| Impressed by Hyang Suk's tenacity, Montgomery and Mia went on. The group left Michael behind on a rock. As the group went on, they made a shocking discovery. The steep trail, led them straight to rock. No more would they be able to walk, but now, using rope and hands, they would have to climb the rest of the way up. Mia attempted to climb a rock wall but she realized that it the climbing was now significantly more difficult. The group clawed and gripped as they were determined to reach the top. |
| Hyang Suk seemed to find a second-wind as she quietly kept climbing. Mia, due to her weak legs, was struggling with the new way up. Montgomery got behind her to help push her and support her. But the terrain just got more and more difficult and steeper and steeper. As the angle of the mountain got sharper, Mia grew weaker. She was in danger. Would she be the second victim of the mountain? Would she fall as brutally as Michael had? |
| MP'S SNAPSHOTS features a collection of Montgomery Paek's personal photos. For more great photos, check out MP's wedding photos and the archived photos in MP's Yahoo! photo album |
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