The Exponent Online


8/17/2001	Welcome Back Issue

Sisters' beauty inspired others

By Kurt Esposito
Assistant Campus Editor

Yeunkyung Woo had completed her PhC and was looking forward to earning her PhD.

Woo had a running joke that when she got accepted into Purdue, she received her PhA; when she passed her qualifying exams for graduate school, she received her PhB; when she passed her preliminary examination to become a doctoral candidate, she received the PhC; and for her, all that was missing was the final piece — the PhD.

David Asai, head of the department of biological sciences, told this story at a memorial service held on Aug. 10 for Woo, 31, a doctoral candidate in biology, and her sister, Hyo Kyung, 29, of Chicago.

The two sisters were killed inside Yeunkyung's Purdue Village apartment, 151 Arnold Drive, on Aug. 2.

Yeunkyung was studying neurobiology at Purdue and still wasn't sure whether she wanted to go into teaching or the private sector.

"But she wanted to do neurobiology," said Asai.

At the service he said, "What set Yeunkyung apart is the way she pursued her goals. She did so with focus and determination. She did it with extraordinary optimism and good humor."

He said it characterized her spirit.

Yeunkyung obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in biology in 1994 from Seoul National University in South Korea and then received her master's of science degree with an ecology focus in 1996 from the university's Graduate School of Environmental Studies.

She moved with her husband, Hyuk Jong Lee, to California in 1997 when he enrolled in the University of California Masters in Business Administration program.

She then enrolled as a doctoral student in Purdue's biological sciences program in 1999 — a decision that kept her apart from her husband, who had returned to Korea after obtaining his MBA.

Melony Black, a graduate student in the School of Science, also spoke at the service about her friend, who she called "Young."

She said she could not understand how Young and her husband could be so far apart from each other, but she came to realize their sacrifice for each other was a symbol of their love.

"For me, the best word to describe Young is beautiful. Not just physical beauty, because we all know she definitely had that, but beauty in every sense of the word."

Black said she was kind, vivacious and enthusiastic.

One of Yeunkyung's favorite television shows was Ally McBeal; every Tuesday she would swoon over Robert Downey Jr., said Black.

An adjunct professor from Purdue, Stanley Rane, who worked with Yeunkyung, also spoke at the memorial service. He said Yeunkyung was a friend as well as a student.

He said she brought prominence and dignity to her profession.

"She enjoyed life. She loved sushi; she loved it," he said.

Yeunkyung was known for her appetite, which also included tastes for pizza, strawberries and ice cream and most types of chain restaurants.

Black said it was unfair that Yeunkyung could eat so much and still maintain a slender figure.

Black also spoke about Hyo Kyung — who she knew as "Kiana" — also describing her as beautiful.

She said the sisters were close and when Hyo Kyung was around she made it even more fun to be around Yeunkyung.

"She was so beautiful, sweet and innocent. And talented."

Hyo Kyung moved in with her sister two months ago and was planning to come to Purdue to study art. She worked in all kinds of mediums, including woodcarving, pottery and glass blowing.

Black said she was amazed when she saw Hyo Kyung's works, because they were so wonderful.

"She would've gone far," said Black.

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