Kum Ja Hong's Obituary
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Kum Ja Hong, age 85, on February 5, 2026. She passed away peacefully at her home in San Francisco, surrounded by her family.
Kum Ja was born on April 10, 1940 in South Korea. As the eldest of five siblings, she was unfortunately thrust into a role of head of household after her father passed away unexpectedly. She met the challenge without hesitation, and ran several successful businesses in order to support her family.
She later moved to the United States, and practiced her love of cooking while running a restaurant business with one of her sisters in San Francisco. She practiced her craft with dedication for almost 12 years before retiring in 2012. During this time, just as in her earlier life in Korea, she found great pride and joy in working hard everyday to support her family.
Her greatest achievement in life was raising her only daughter, Yun Hee. Kum Ja instilled the same values of hard work and dedication in Yun Hee that she herself lived by. Outside of work, she enjoyed spending time with her family, going on hikes, and singing. Although she did not have pets recently, she loved animals, and raised several pet dogs in Korea.
She is survived by her daughter Yun Hee and son-in-law Gene. She is also survived by her sister Sun Ok in San Francisco, and her other sisters Jung Hee and Yeon Ok, as well as her brother Yong Sung in Korea.
What’s your fondest memory of Kum Ja?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kum Ja?
Share a story where Kum Ja's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kum Ja you’ll never forget.
How did Kum Ja make you smile?