RIP Chung Kim

Kit Chen just posted these sad news on facebook where he was his moderator and friend.
I think he was here named DeltaForceChung and some other account later on. Some knew him before and from other sites.

This is terrible news for those of us that knew him for many years. It had been awhile since I heard from him, so this saddens me greatly. RIP, my friend. I will miss him for sure.

Very sad news. I would often chuckle at the posts he would make on OSK. He got me to engage more in that group for sure. I will miss him. RIP Chung Kim.

RIP DFC: it's very sad day, indeed I will miss him too.

Rest in Peace.
A unique character from what little I knew of him.

This is incredibly sad news. DFC was one of our Founding Fathers, an old friend, and a wealth of knowledge, practical advice, and exuberant (if often off-color) humor. I know he had been struggling with some issues of late, but had no idea that his health was on the line (if that is what did it). And while he might not have been present in these parts for various reasons, knowing he is no longer out there feels like an opened void. And a reminder, that we should appreciate people while we have them around.
Rest in Peace, Chung!

Not sure what happened to him. Chung was a fairly private person in real life, and the last time we talked thru email he said he hadn’t been feeling well. I know very little else except what Kit relayed to me after he tried to reach out via phone to Chung himself when Chung’s dad answered the phone. I won’t say anymore than that, as it’s not my place. I’m just at a loss…

Oh man, just got the news over at the Freaks Boards... I only knew him from 1/6 boards (I think I first "met" him at the OneSixthCollectors Boards -if that was the name-) and he always struck me as a man who knew his stuff in 1/6, and always had some insider info, or cautionary tales from days past...
He did seem very grumpy the last few months I saw him active over at the Freaks Boards, but he'll be missed.
It's sad to lose people you have "known" for so long in these boards.

I first met Chung on the Men With Dolls message board back in 2002 which was popular with Cy/Cool Girl collectors at the time.   It turned out that he only lived 15-20 minutes away.   We took the first of what would be many road trips together to Orlando for MegaCon in either 2002 or 2003.  I don’t remember which.   Before long, we were going 3-4 times a year:  MegaCon, the FX Toy Show, and a trip or two just to go on a mega toy hunt.

Chung was always a polarizing personality on 1/6 message boards.  He could be cantankerous and confrontational, often leaving (or even being suspended) for months at a time.   Whether you liked him or not, every time he left, there was a void.   Chungs’s enthusiasm, unparalleled knowledge of the hobby, and sense of humor drove those boards.  They were never as alive without him as they were with him.

However, I also knew a different Chung.   In person, he was a joy to be around.  He was always a gentleman and one of the most pleasant and kindest people you could hope to meet.  My daughters adored him.  One of my fondest memories is when he came over to the house one afternoon bearing a box full of Bratz dolls for my girls.  Some thought of him as hoarder, but I knew the real Chung.  He was a kind and generous man.

Over time, life changed as life always does.  I lost interest in 1/6, and online shopping had made traveling to conventions and brick and mortar shops somewhat redundant.  On one of the of the last times I saw him in person, I bequeathed my 1/6 collection to him.  I had done some popular photo stories on Men With Dolls, so a lot of those figures had their own distinct personalities and histories.  I couldn’t just throw them on eBay.   I thought I was done with that chapter of my toy collecting life, but I’ll never forget what he said to me at the time:  I’m only keeping these for you until you’re ready to come back.”

Several years went by.  We would exchange e-mails a couple of times a year saying that we needed to have lunch or dinner sometime and catch up, but we both had busy schedules, and it never materialized.   Then, last year, I found myself back in the world of 1/6 again, and we started exchanging e-mails much more frequently.   The last time we talked was early in May.  He asked if I would be willing to help him organize his offsite storage bay and in return he would treat me to dinner.  Of course I would have treated HIM to dinner for that experience.   Can you imagine?  After twenty-five years of collecting, that offsite storage bay must have been the Smithsonian of 1/6.  I told him “Anytime!  Just let me know when you’re ready!”  Sadly, it never came to be.

When I read the subject line this morning, my heart dropped.  I hoped against hope that the thread had been started by Chung himself as he always had a flair for the dramatic and often either left or returned to the forums reinventing himself in some way.  However, i only had to read the first post to realize that it was all too real.

I’ve been trough this far too many times before.  Today I’m very sad and wondering how the hell I’m going to maintain my composure at our family get together this afternoon.  I’m going to see my oldest daughter, and all I’m going to be able to think about is those Bratz dolls.  However, I know that time will heal, and when I think of Chung, I’ll smile and remember him for all of the good times we had, both online and in person.

Oh noo! I didn’t know him well at all but he was a staple on the 1/6 boards I’ve been on over the years.

Thank you for that moving tribute to Chung, Xavion. Even those of us who knew him for a long time online, and who dealt with him outside of forums (though still remotely) have little insight and much less perspective on the real Chung; so much more so those who only experienced his flamboyantly abrasive online persona (the rationale for which remains a mystery to me). As with any loss of this kind, the pain of sadness will hopefully give way to the melancholy comfort of good memories -- and you have plenty of these. Thank you for sharing some of them.

Oh no, what awful news to come here and see today. Even if I didn't always get along with DFC, his presence will be missed. He had true passion for the hobby, and even during his most critical or cynical moments, that much definitely shone through. I'm so upset for everyone who was close to him -- it is such a surreal feeling to lose someone you knew well online. It leaves you feeling so adrift. And Xavion, how tragic you didn't get to see him again....I'm so sorry.  

Rest in Peace.

Definitely someone that left their mark in the hobby though I never interacted with him (at least I don't remember) , I would always read his posts at OSW whenever I would go there, he seemed quite knowledgeable and passionate about the hobby and someone that seemed to find information about different situations that arose. My condolences to his family and friends and those who knew him more personally.

GubernatorFan wrote:Thank you for that moving tribute to Chung, Xavion. Even those of us who knew him for a long time online, and who dealt with him outside of forums (though still remotely) have little insight and much less perspective on the real Chung; so much more so those who only experienced his flamboyantly abrasive online persona (the rationale for which remains a mystery to me). As with any loss of this kind, the pain of sadness will hopefully give way to the melancholy comfort of good memories -- and you have plenty of these. Thank you for sharing some of them.

It was often difficult for me to reconcile his online persona with the person I knew in real life.  When he would go on one of his “scorched earth” tirades, I could do little more than shake my head and wonder “Why?”.  I always wanted others to know what a good person he truly was, and that’s even more important to me now that he’s gone.

skywalkersaga wrote:Oh no, what awful news to come here and see today. I know I didn't always get along with DFC, but his presence will nonetheless be missed. He had true passion for the hobby, and even during his most critical or cynical moments, that much definitely shone through. I'm so upset for everyone who was close to him -- it is such a surreal feeling to lose someone you knew well online. It leaves you feeling so adrift. And Xavion, how tragic you didn't get to see him again....I'm so sorry.  

Thank you, Sky.  If I have any regrets, it’s that I wasn’t more persistent in setting a time and a place for us to meet up.  It would be one thing if he lived half way across the country, but he lived closer to me than the office building that I drive to three days a week.  Obviously the pandemic played into that as it’s only been a few months since things have been truly back to normal, but it’s a sad reminder that we don’t always have as much time as we think we do.

oh no! a legend is lost...

I remembered he posted a picture of his warehouse keeping all his 1/6th figures (couldn't find where he posted the picture), and he mentioned he would purchased 6 of each figures: 1 for display, 1 for stripping, and other reasons i couldn't remembered. I wonder if these figures will be gone with him...

Oh, did the covid get him?

RIP

Xavion2004 wrote:

Thank you, Sky.  If I have any regrets, it’s that I wasn’t more persistent in setting a time and a place for us to meet up.

You are not the only one with some regrets. Here is the post from Kit on fb for all those without social media




So yeah, reminder to all, don'T wait to long with things you want to do in life and value friends. Even if we all know, everyday life can be a swamp.

that's a really sad news. Thoughts to his family and friends

This is very sad. Since I started collecting 1/6 figures around 2008, I've been reading DFC's comment on various forums. He has been some kind of "constant factor" for me in this hobby, even though I disagreed with a lot of his views on figure collecting. He will be missed in this community.

Thanks for sharing, Valiarde (and Kit).

Like so many said here: he was a jerk, an ass, and an opinionated butthead. We bumped heads a lot, more so recently over the last year, and he rubbed people the wrong way a lot and got the occasional side glance. He was a defender of Traid Toys even when the ship was sunk and at the bottom of the ocean. You weren't the greatest of contributors to deal with, but you were still a fellow collector. R.I.P Chung

Well, that is unfortunate. I knew him from the Men with Dolls and one Sixth Warrior forums, but my interactions with him were rather limited. I do wonder if his hostility in recent years had something to do with his failing health, because I dont recall him starting out that way. Or he just became jaded and cynical after years in the hobby- Alas, we will never know......

ZeroDelta wrote:Well, that is unfortunate. I knew him from the Men with Dolls and one Sixth Warrior forums, but my interactions with him were rather limited. I do wonder if his hostility in recent years had something to do with his failing health, because I dont recall him starting out that way. Or he just became jaded and cynical after years in the hobby- Alas, we will never know......

Chung was always mercurial online.  He was like the Roddy Piper of 1/6.  Piper could go from beloved face to despised heel overnight and vice versa.  Of course Roddy was an incredibly gifted performer.  What drove Chung to such extremes will always remain a mystery to me.  The only thing I can tell you is that in person, I never…not once…saw even a hint of the volatility and hostility he displayed online.  I spent enough time around him that I would have seen it at some point.  Even someone on their best behavior is going to show some cracks eventually if they’re hiding their true nature.

sad news. I remember him back from the old "Sandbox" days when things were just starting out in 1/6 action figures.

can someone send this link to his family to let them know how much Chung's being missed online?

brassco wrote:can someone send this link to his family to let them know how much Chung's being missed online?

Well, certain outbursts of meanness even under such circumstances might have to be edited out first. I have no contact with Chung's family.