Chong Suk Yu

1930 - 2024

Chong Suk Yu

October 28, 1930 - December 4, 2024

Davidson, North Carolina - Chong Suk Yu (Kim), 94, formerly of Seoul, South Korea, died suddenly of natural cause on December 4, 2024, in Davidson, NC, where she lived with her family. Chong Suk was born near Seoul, the daughter of Soon Yi Kim and Kae Dong Kim who worked for the Korea National Railway. She was one of six siblings. Born into Japanese occupied Korea on October 28, 1930, Chong Suk completed basic education afforded at that time. Following liberation in 1945, she married in1949. Chong Suk gave birth to her first daughter, Sun Cha, in 1950 which is the same year the Korean war began: a war that killed over 10% of the population. Chong Suk's first husband was tragically killed fighting for the Republic of Korea (ROK) when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) invaded. Chong Suk remarried in 1958 to Hak Joon Yu (1916-1994). They were blessed with daughters Sun Hwa and Pil Sun born in 1959 and 1960 respectively. They ran a small business shop and last lived in Sa Dang Dong outside of Seoul.

Chong Suk and several siblings immigrated with their families to the United States in the late 1970's. Chong Suk has lived with her daughter Pil Sun's family for the last four decades and was deeply cared for by Pil Sun and her sister Sun Hwa until her passing. Chong Suk was beyond a devoted grandmother, deeply caring for and raising her grandchildren and assisting in running the household, affording the family the opportunity to build a company. An unparallelled cook of Korean cuisine, she catered educational seminars for the business resulting in evaluation replies committing business not for technical expertise, but only if they may experience her cooking from time to time. Acorn pudding, an acquired taste for sure, was eaten by all with her love bringing a sweetness making it delicious. Chong Suk also loved orchids, gardening, and cultivating her chestnut and persimmon trees.

Surviving her is daughter Sun Cha and her two sons Teddy and Chris Condo; daughter and son-in-law Pil Sun and Chuck Marvin of Davidson, NC along with Sun Hwa and Robert Niles of Cornelius, NC; granddaughter Cynthia M. (Nick) Kain and their daughters Mina James (MJ) and Marion Colegrove (Minnie) of Cornelius, NC; granddaughter Jennifer M. (Dean) Fox and their son Dean Charles (Charlie) of Durham, NC. She was predeceased by her first husband Killed in Action (KIA '52); second husband Hak Joon Yu ('94); brothers Soo Myong Kim ('24) of Fairfax, VA; Song Kwan Kim ('88) of Seoul, Korea; Sung Kwan Kim ('86) of Raleigh, NC; Sisters Chong Hee Kim ('04) of Fredericksburg, VA; Jung Sun Kim ('14) of Columbia, SC.

A gathering in her home of family, friends, and neighbors will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, December 28. Guests are welcome to come and go between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. The family looks forward to celebrating Chong Suk's life with guests by reminiscing over her favorite foods. In place of flowers, donations may be made to Charles House Association, 7511 Sunrise Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 at their website https://charleshouse.org/donate/ or by calling (919) 967-7570.