"He emigrated from Korea in 1997, and became a U.S. citizen in 1982." That doesn't sound right...

I figured it was probably a disgruntled employee. I guess I was right. While not outright mentioned, the subtle allusion that "several interactions with co-workers" lead to a change in work assignment does imply that Chun was very troubled and possibly antisocial. It sounds like he took his life in public, at his place of employment, to exact revenge for perceived slights against him. It's too bad that he did not utilize the services that were offered to him; unfortunately, it seems that the people who need mental health services the most, like Chun, are very often the people who fall through the cracks and do not receive the help they so desperately need. Very sad, indeed.

Thanks for your continued coverage on this event! Thursday was my first time visiting the University so I immediately became interested in how this situation would be handled. I'm glad to hear people are taking strides to find out what happened and why.

This sounds just like the University of Washington.
A man who doesn't fit the Universities idea of race and class being dismissed and disregarded because they saw no use for him in their rise in University rankings.

I can only imagine the pain that this poor man felt, and broken heart after trying his very best.

I am sure that while measures were taken to "extend" help, if this man truly felt a compassionate soul at the University, this incident would have never occurred.

The University of Washington should be investigated for this, employees should have justice and not be pushed to these extremes.
It is justice served that the University of Washington would receive this type of press, someone needed to stand up against this institution. The actions this man took were extreme, however light needs to be shined on the personnel involved in this incident. Changes in the University process need to be made, and someone needs to be accountable for this tragedy.

I want the truth, not the University cover-up.

What complaints have been filed against the employees who handled this man? Personal interviews with current employees who feel they have been mistreated.

We have freedom of the press. Please use it.

Another UW Student, I've made myself perfectly clear.

You may re-read my comment if you like, or go on about your day.

@ #7

Did you even read the article?

So because the Daily is not omniscient, you must assume the University is at fault? The UW must be racist and classist, nevermind that if there's any udnerrepresented group at UW it is probably Caucasians or that the Husky Promise gives free tuition to lower class students on top of state subsidies.

Stop thinking in terms of predestination by race and class--a common mistake among those who always blame The Man for everything bad that happens in this world--and maybe you'll realize sometimes people are responsible for their own actions.

#13, you really sound like 2008 version of the KKK. Caucasians are udnerrepresented? All you see is Caucasian race at UW. And what's this "man's true story" got to do with Husky Promise? and shut up with the "people are responsible for their own actions". That counts to a certain degree. It's your (#13) mob mentality that exists in UW students and faculties that caused a helpless man to set himself on fire. It's beyond the limit of hopelessness when someone has the desire to end their life in such a way, and that is done by KKK style of bulling just like the way you speak #13. By the way, my 4 Caucasian friends are/were given %80 of their tuition in grants so your claim of lower class = non Caucasians is not sound, but stupid and racist.

The very dark place that this man was in is not where anyone ever wants to be, or should be. Having said that and having my own daughter be a witness to this incredible act of violence it is understandable to feel compasion and sadness for Mr Chun. Please remember if you are one of the first on the scene, as my daughter was to understand that you were also wounded. Mr Chun not only hurt himself, but inflicted his pain and misery on many people that day. It sounds like so many people on this comment page our finding targets and thinking they are right. Please stop. Stop the tendency to blame, and help this situation by just being better yourself, notice hurt, help each other. The angry words your are all throwing around are poor subsitutes for even getting anything resolved. That night my girl could not close her eyes, it was not safe inside her, the images he left her will be with her always. Tell the truth, this should not be about arguing, but about healing and for the many who on that day that did their very best. Lead this discusion with integrity. If that is what you desire from life you will only experience it if you practice it. And for those who are angry get help, what happened to Mr Chun happened for a reason, but your mind will only assist in reasoning this situation if your heart is involved. Thank you for listening.

#18, Are you crazy? You are a white man yourself, but you sound like a stupid skinhead trying to make noise. If you are a part of UW, it's a shame on UW's part that includes unqualified white people like you in the school. I bet you got in to UW just because your name was Chad! Know one thing, there are white people out there who'll out number you in terms of goodness.

To #20: You did well by reminding us that it would be improperly presumptive of us to assume we "knew," his state of mind,especially given the lack of insight provided from this article, however, as part of the UW community, we are mostly adults, and his actions understandably may have effected, and affected some of us more than others, if for no other reason than logistics, but let's not forget that until recently he was part of the UW community as well, and while certainly paid, he was paid to tend toward picking up after the community itself, at least in some regard.
I was not familiar with the deceased.
Societies and cultures, are often said to be judged by how they treat, and or manage the "least," of their members. You seem to be inferring he "did something awful" to OUR community. Well, excuse me, I don't feel injured, lest we forget, this is a human being that chose to end his life on University/"our," property via what is suspected to be one of the most painful ways a human being can die. I concur that an investigation is needed, and no, not to find out who is responsible for his death, in all likelihood, assumptions provided, he was, but rather to better advantage the University's human resource decisions so as not to disenfranchise it's more sensitive, and perhaps diligent, staff members. That said, my experience there in no uncertain terms educated me that the tenor of University politics/policy is to rest on its laurels, at the slightest whiff of inconvenience, even if principals are at stake. This is not say that it is a "bad," school, as to make such an assertion would be presumptive without grounds as well. That said, "we," may not have be held accountable for his mental stability, and may not be, in any regard, and I will not presume we should be, but responsibility, and accountability, are not necessarily part of the same subset. That said, it was certainly a tragic event, so let's not bury our head in the metaphorical sand, and cast it as meaningless as well, assumptions provided.

Is there any other purpose for the Daily other than to publish bunch of @##%#! This matter, this man's action, needs to be investigated. To set oneself on fire is the paradigm of extreme depression. What people forget is that it's not your physiology alone, but the environment's profound effect on one's mental status. He must have been ignored by the UW and labeled as crazy and inadequate.

#24, That is irrelevant. Why did UW hire him if he had a bad record? That does not add up. It's another article to frame a dead guy. Shameful. This is a place that future leaders are suppose to me made. WOW!!