Young Whan Kihl
October 13, 1932 - December 14, 2014
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Young Whan Kihl
October 13, 1932 - December 14, 2014
Obituary
Professor Young W. Kihl, age 82, of Laguna Woods, California, passed away at Orangegrove Rehabilitation Hospital on December 14, 2014.
Young Whan Kihl was born in Korea on October 13, 1932. He graduated from Young San High School in Seoul, Korea. After migrating to the United States and becoming a US citizen, he received a BA in Political Science and Economics from Grinnell College and a Ph.D. in International Politics and Organizations, Comparative Politics (Asia) and Political Behavior from New York University.
Professor Kihl was passionate about political science. He specialized in North South Korean relations and wrote many well-respected books on the topic.
Professor Kihl was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary in 2007. He is survived by his children, Ann and Christopher, and his sisters Young Won Ha and Young Yun Lee.
A memorial service will be held at O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 on Monday, December 22 at 1:00 P.M.
12 responses to Young Whan Kihl
Kyu Ho Youm says:
September 6, 2020
I’ve just posted to Facebook: “I’m profoundly saddened to learn, albeit belatedly, that the late Prof. Young Whan Kihl (Iowa State) passed away nearly six years ago. https://oconnormortuary.com/obits/young-whan-kihl/ A leading authority on North and South Korea, Prof Kihl was a longtime mentor to me as a senior Korean-American friend. Our paths crossed in the summer of 1994, when we were resident fellows at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES). In the 1990s, my late wife, Bokim, and I enjoyed socializing with him and his wife, Mary, then an associate dean at Arizona State, during his “snow bird” visit during the winter months. Ambassador Sung Chul Yang is right on point: “What a loss to the scholarship of contemporary Korean politics and beyond. He was a rare and genuine scholar.” Prof. Kihl is sorely missed by many of us for his influential teaching and research of 40+ years and for his generous friendship.” My added comment: “After reading Prof. Kihl’s and my journalist friend Donald Kirk’s essays (pp. 58-60) in honor of Dr. Hesung Chun Koh, I Googled Dr. Kihl to reconnect with him. My late wife was fond of him as a ‘fatherly gentleman.'” with a giving heart. https://www.amazon.com/Hesung-Chun-Koh-Essays-Hwegap/dp/B002DF8MG4/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22hesung%20chun%20koh%22&qid=1599246098&s=books&sr=1-2&fbclid=IwAR3ETTwvklK9MgM2UHSIAabBTjJu6mRBKWIXzd3wtRKGNutVFjOKe_Ufc18