James Kim (1971-2006)

My dear friend and colleague James Kim was found today. He passed away in the wilderness looking for help for his wife and two kids. Kati and the two daughters Sabine and Penelope were found Monday and are alive and well.

I worked with James at TechTV on many things. When TechTV moved to LA we both got jobs at CNET and started on the same day. I was very happy to see a friendly face like his on my first day on a new job. We sat right next to each other my first year there, and it helped to have him around to talk to.

He would always pop by my desk and talk baseball. His team was the Mariners but he had a fondness for my team, the Cardinals. A couple months ago he gave me a Cardinals baseball player figurine he’d found while cleaning out some stuff. He said he thought of me when he saw it. It surprised me but made me grateful too. It was really thoughtful.

If I ever needed anything in the course of my job, James would break his back trying to help me out. He was a good man. Not in the trite sense, but in the real sense. He always meant well, and always wanted to make things better.

It’s why he gave the majority of the food to his kids when they were stuck in the car. That’s what led him to leave the car after a week. He wanted to make things better. They say every person has a time, but this doesn’t seem right. We all wanted so badly for this turn out well. And we’re very grateful Kati and the two girls made it, but it’s breaking our hearts that James didn’t.

Thanks James. I’ll miss you.

East Meets West 50

Tom and Roger discuss the disappearance of the James Kim family. They also talk about Doctor Who, the IT crowd, and whether ownership of media will continue int he future.

EMW 50

If you have any information about James Kim, the Pacific Northwest call center in Salem, OR number is 1-800-452-7888.

CNET editor James Kim Missing

CNET editor and former TechTV product reviewer James Kim is missing along with hisJames Kim family while on vacation in the Pacific Northwest. James, his wife and two children left last week on a road trip. They were last seen in Portland on Saturday November 25th, where they visited with friends. His family has filed a police report and are currently working with the San Francisco Police Department, which has opened a missing persons investigation.
We are all very worried about James and his family.

Just found this from the police report.

“They were driving a 2005 silver Saab station wagon with California personalized plates of “DOESF”.”

The full report is here

http://www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp?id=50539

If you know anything about James’ whereabouts, you can contact the SFPD by calling 415-558-5508 during normal business hours and 415-553-1071 after hours. Portland police can be reached at 503-823-4000.
A recent shot of the Kims (minus Penelope) on MUNI:
http://flickr.com/photos/sammybee/279276744/

Update: As of 9 a.m. PST Friday, investigators said they were narrowing their search to Oregon’s Highway 38 as the family’s most probable route to their destination of Gold Beach. The Kims last spoke to an innkeeper there by phone about five hours before they planned to arrive.

Update : At 1:45 PM Monday afternoon, rescuers found Kati Kim and her two daughters at the car near Bear Creek Road.  James had left Saturday morning to find help and had said he would return that afternoon.  He has not been heard from.  Rescuers are working through the night to try to find him.