[Edaily Starin Reporter YUN GI BACK ] Comedian Kim Jeong-ryeol revealed that it took over 30 years for him to learn the truth surrounding his older brother’s death. He explained that the cause of death of his brother, who passed away while serving in the military, differed from what the family had initially been told, and that the truth only came to light many years later through an investigation into suspicious military deaths.

Kim Jeong-ryeol appeared alongside Hwang Gi-soon on the MBN talk show “Kim Ju-ha’s Day & Night,” which aired on the 8th, and shared his family history.
When Kim Jeong-ryeol was in high school, his older brother, who was serving in the military at the time, suddenly passed away. Recalling that time, he said, “After my brother returned to his military unit, a military official came to visit and told us that he had fallen ill and been admitted to a military hospital.”
The cause of death reported to the family was pesticide ingestion. However, his mother reportedly could not accept this, insisting there were inconsistencies surrounding her son’s death. Kim Jung-ryeol confided, “My mother insisted he absolutely did not die from drinking pesticide,” adding that he felt frustrated for a long time because he could not uncover the truth.
The truth was revealed only after some 30 years had passed. According to Kim Jeong-ryeol, during an investigation into suspicious military deaths, it was belatedly confirmed that his older brother had died as a result of beatings while serving in the military. This was completely different from the circumstances of his death that had initially been communicated to the family.
Given the passage of so many years, there were practical limitations to holding anyone accountable. Kim Jeong-ryeol said, “The statute of limitations had expired, and they made a declaration of conscience,” adding, “They also apologized to our family. We are in the process of restoring my brother’s honor.”
Although the truth had been confirmed, the pain felt by the family remained. Kim Jeong-ryeol explained that they were unable to reinter his older brother’s remains at the National Cemetery because they could not locate them, and they also missed out on compensation because they missed the application deadline by just a few days. What was most heartbreaking, however, was that his mother had to endure so many long years without knowing the truth. For his mother, who had lived with the death of her eldest son buried deep in her heart, the truth that finally came to light after some 30 years was an answer that had come far too late.