Elaine Chaewon Kim

"All we must decide is what to do with the time that is given us." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Obituary

With deepest grief, we announce the passing of Elaine Chaewon Kim, aged 28, who was born on February 1998 and passed away on April 2026 in London, United Kingdom. There was no one like our beloved Elaine. She lived life with the utmost wit, brought humor and joy to every situation with her profound intelligence, and had the most tender heart for others. She was the treasured daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kim.

There wasn't anything Elaine couldn't do. She graduated as the salutatorian of Daegu International School Class of 2016 and out of the dozens of leading college institutions that accepted her, she chose Stanford University. She graduated Stanford Class of 2021 and was awarded the Stanford Award of Excellence, designed to recognize the top 10% of the class of graduating seniors who have demonstrated a sincere commitment to the university through involvement, leadership and extraordinary Stanford spirit. On campus, she was involved in The Stanford Daily, Memorial Church Choir, Bing Overseas Studies Program in Berlin and Queer Student Resources. She also studied abroad at Seoul National University in 2019 in South Korea and performed in their church choir. Upon graduation, she made significant contributions in the field of AI, earning praise from local newsletters quoting, "ChatGPT firm reveals AI model that is ‘good at creative writing’." and also gained acceptance to Stanford Law School.

An incredibly gifted writer and author, she has authored several books and used her gift to tutor many students, to spearhead efforts in queer activism, and bless thousands. Her unique and beautiful way of seeing the world and capturing it into art was unmatched. Elaine was also a relentless traveler, sporting her inner Hobbit. Countries include Canada, Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand, United Kingdom, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, and so many others. A lover of hiking, she could be found climbing mountains, skydiving and watching the aurora in New Zealand. A lover of cats like no other, she fostered countless kittens and cats, with care and affection just like her mother.

Elaine loved her family and friends loyally and faithfully and she is deeply and profoundly missed and will be lovingly remembered forever.

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