I first met Dase as a junior associate at Cleary, and what I always found striking was his level of honesty (mixed in with a hint of good-humored jadedness) and approachability.   He was never one to mince words or sugarcoat what life was like as a corporate lawyer in downtown New York.   In that sense, he was the very antithesis of self-importance; it was a privilege to see that side of him, given the stellar reputation he held amongst his professional colleagues.  

I never got to meet his family but as a young lawyer that followed in his footsteps, it was incredibly reassuring to have him as a friend and mentor.   What a tough loss for us all to stomach.  

Rest in peace, Dase.  You are sorely missed.  

a couple days late, but happy birthday Dase. 

Wow. This is some of the worst news that I have heard. Daseul was my roommate when I was stationed in Korea. I smile everytime when I think about the first time that I spoke with him. He was getting initiated by the other KATUSAs of the company and I told him that stuff wasn't going to happen in our room. I can't remember the exact conversation, but his first words to me was Dude, I'm from the United States.”

Dase was the senior associate on my first assignment at Cleary and I was extremely fortunate to have worked with him closely during the first year of my legal career and his last year at Cleary before he moved to KKR. He became a teacher and mentor to me, and despite the significant gap in age and experience, he quickly became a friend as well. Dase was brilliant, but also exceptionally genuine, patient, kind and always generous with his time. He also had a memorable sense of humor and trips to his office often ended in laughter. He left a huge impression on me in our short time together and I learned so much from him about how to be a good lawyer and a good person. Although we regrettably lost touch over the years, he has always stood out in my mind as one of the best people and leaders I have encountered. As I have advanced in my career, I have frequently thought of him as an example of what great leadership should be and I hope to pass on the kindness he showed me early in my career. I am devastated by the news of his untimely passing – I will miss him and always remember him.  My deepest condolences to his family.

I didn't have the honor to know Dase, but his brother, Hanseul often met up with me when he was in town to visit Dase.  From Hanseul's bits of stories over time, I gathered that Dase was an awesome brother and father.  I am so sorry for the family's loss.  Please accept my deepest condolences.  My thoughts are with the family.  Please stay strong.   

I am a recruiter and worked with Dase when he moved from Cleary to KKR.  I was shocked and greatly saddened to hear the news of his untimely passing.  I have been working as a recruiter for over 22 years and  have met thousands of attorneys over the years, but Dase stood out as one of the most exceptional people I have ever met.  Of course, he was brilliant, funny, kind and humble, but there was something special about his spirit that touched me and made a lasting impression.  It was easy to feel an instant connection with Dase, as he was so genuinely warm and interested in other people.  As others have noted, his sense of humor was incredible.  I don't think I have ever enjoyed working with anyone as much as I enjoyed working with Dase.    

My deepest condolences to his family. 

I just learned about Dase’s passing. Reading these memories has me reminiscing. I met Dase one summer when we were both summer associates at a law firm. He was an exceptionally friendly, funny, and thoughtful person. I remember having so many long conversations with him about life, about school, about his military service. He was so interesting, warm, and funny. I knew he would go far and would be very successful. We lost touch but I am not surprised to learn that he was beloved by so many. He was truly special, and a very memorable person. 

김다슬 아주버님은 몇년간 가까이 알고지내며 가족들을 통해서 소식을 들었을때도 항상 열정적이고 좋은 분이었습니다. 너무나요. 그런 분을 하늘에서 일찍 불러들이셔서 무척 슬프고 아쉽습니다. 부디 먼곳에서 편안하시길 바라며.. 형님과 남은 가족들도 슬픔을 잘 이겨내시길 기원합니다.

We will always remember Dase for his warmth, kindness, sense of humor, and devotion to all of you, Diona, Sean and Jamie.  We see him in your remarkable kids, Sean and Jamie, who are dear friends to our boys.  We hold you all close to our hearts and send you prayers and strength during this difficult time.  May he rest in peace.  We are here for you always.  With love, the Lin family (Sarah, Steven, Brandon and Adam).    


I still remember the time when Dase oppa and Sean were visiting our home - how gentle he was…approaching my shy toddler who immediately opened up, and also LOVED following Sean hyung around everywhere that day. Jae and I, to this day, are amazed by how Dase oppa would fondly talk about traveling to certain states just so he can show Sean’s favorite sea creatures - such love! Though it was only through several occasions - I’m so grateful I got to know him. 

Our deepest condolences to Unni, Sean and Jaimie…we continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers.  







I didn’t have the honor to have known Daseul personally, even though we went to the same college and law school.  I did, however, hear many stories through his brother, Hanseul, who spoke of him frequently, always with much love and admiration.  I also met Narae Unni once in Chicago, and remember thinking what a beautiful couple they must be.   I cannot imagine how difficult this must be.  But after having heard from so many who loved him at the service, I sincerely hope and pray that you will find comfort in the memories of the many lives he seems to have touched so deeply.  I will continue to hold him and your family in my prayers.  

한슬 오빠, 나래 언니와 가족 분들, 깊은 애도를 표합니다. 기도 중에 늘 기억할께요. 

To Dase's family,

It was a privilege to get to know Dase from our time at Cleary.  We sat on the same floor and had the opportunity to work together on a couple transactions.  He was the role model that many of us looked up to - exceptionally skilled lawyer who knows the rules inside out, humble, always willing to share his time with others, and great personality.   He is simply someone you want to be around with. 

I think of Diona, Sean, Jamie and Dase's parents, and I am truly sorry about your loss.  I hope that Dase is now well rested, in peace and brings his humor and joy to where he is now. 

Ting 

I knew Daseul as the devoted father of one of my students. While I did not know him too well, his kindness radiated through his son Sean. He was a very devoted and caring father, and my most heartfelt condolences go out to this beautiful family during this difficult time. 

Dear Diona, Sean and Jamie,

We are grieving with you. Dase was a wonderful man, husband and father as well as law school classmate. His kindness and love for those close to him is something that we admire and respect greatly. We are grateful that he had the years together with you that he did as we know that you cherished him (as he did you) and that you had many happy moments together, even as we would have wished for many more. 

Our deepest condolences - you are each in our prayers,
Katerberg Family

Please accept our deepest condolences for your devastating loss.  You are in our thoughts and hearts.

- Andrea Nikolov’s family, HCES

Our families were close, as our girls often played together. When we first met, our families had lunch at the Writing Room, a restaurant on the UES that shut down during covid. We had a good laugh sharing stories about working and raising kids, in the middle of chaos while my husband and I took turns holding/feeding our crying baby.  Dase was very involved in raising the kids - I remember our families spoke about our common experiences, for example the process of hiring a good nanny! We laughed when Dase mentioned how surprised the nanny candidates were when he (the dad) called to do the screening interviews.

Whenever we saw Dase he was with his family, either at a kids birthday party or randomly on the street on his way to a kids activity. He was a kind, generous, and warm father to his kids, and  a friend who was easy to talk to at all times. He was so well liked by the parent community. We are all very sad to lose such a loving father, husband, and friend. We send our deepest condolences to your family.

좋은곳에서 부디 편히 쉬세요. 

나래와 아이들에게 너무 듬직하고 최고의 남편, 아빠셨던 오빠는 언제까지나 언제나 나래와 아이들을 지켜줄것이라 믿어요.

이렇게 먼곳에 있음이 더욱더 애통하나 
너무나 너무나 사랑하고 소중한 나래와, 가족들과 이 큰 슬픔을 함께합니다. 



Dase and I worked together at KKR for 4+ years. He was a sharp lawyer but most importantly Dase was my good friend. I will miss him terribly and I have not yet processed that we won't be able to work together again - grab coffee, share work gossip and support each other. I am so glad that I met him. And I am so incredibly sad for Diona, his children and his family. He will not be forgotten.

Daseul and I knew each other from law school. He was the student that the school had assigned to me to pester with questions before enrolling.  It was very clear why the school had assigned him - his clarity of thought, patience and kindness came through each and every email.  Although Daseul had graduated by the time I had started law school,  I had the pleasure to meet him in person much later as I had become friends with Diona who was in her last year of law school.

While it's been a few years since I've met Daseul and his family in person, I remember distinctly how deeply he loved his children and how much joy they brought to his life - just talking about them brought a smile to his face.  None can deny his intellect, but I will remember him for how profoundly decent a human being he was. His untimely loss is a shock to us all and I cannot fathom how devastating this must be for Diona and her family.  

Diona, please accept our deepest condolences. We will be praying for you and your family.  

May Daseul rest in peace. 

Dase was one of the most diligent and talented persons I know and a good friend. I will always cherish the conversations I had with him during late nights in the law school library. I will miss him. 

My deepest condolences to Diona and his family.

As a colleague at Cleary, Dase was someone whose example I always sought to emulate, both as a lawyer and a human being.  He was helpful, clear and patient with his clients and he was kind and generous with his time to his colleagues.  Most of all, I enjoyed his humor – whenever I stopped by his office for a chat, it rarely ended up being about work and it always involved laughter.  I will miss him.  Love and condolences to Diona and the family. 

Dear Kim family, my deepest condolences. Dase & I were at Northwestern together, and he was a good man & dear friend whom I never saw without a smile. It breaks my heart to see a good person gone way too soon, yet seeing all these fond memories posted on the tribute page, I know he made an incredible impact. Wishing you all the best during these tough times.
-A.J. Noronha

I am a colleague of Dase.  My condolences to his family.  He was a joy to work with.

My deepest condolences to you and your family during this time of loss. May you find the strength, comfort, and peace you need during this time of mourning.

With love,
Ms. Lobelle, HCES

I was a junior associate at the firm where Dase summered.  One day, I heard the partners talking about “that memo.”  A summer associate had written an outstanding legal memorandum, one that many partners were blown away by.  It was Dase Kim’s memo.

Since then, I had the honor of getting to know Dase as a colleague and friend.  I remember walking the streets of downtown Manhattan, chatting about the drudgery of an associate’s life.

Dase was honest when he gathered facts.  He analyzed information without bias.  To me, Dase was a person who listened to people, who tried to understand what he heard with the kindest and warmest angle of interpretation.  He cared for people in a noble way, and didn’t let his brilliance blind sight him when face to face with someone who was only ordinary.

I was often humbled when I observed Dase live his life.  Why it had to be short, I don’t know ... 

My deepest condolences to Dase’s family.  

My deepest condolences to you and your family, Diona. We are thinking of you and look forward to seeing Jamie and you real soon!

Rest In Peace, Dase.

-Miranda 


Dear Diona, Sean and Jamie,
I am so incredibly sad to hear about Dase. He was always smiling and so kind to others.  Our thoughts, love, and prayers are with you during this incredibly difficult time.  Please reach out if you need anything. xoxo
Much love,
Julie, Jason, Ethan & Emily (Pike) 


I still clearly remember when we strolled along the streets of Hongdae and Jongno in our twenties. Ah, all the laughter and tears we had together. After all we have been through with so many memories and dreams, I cannot accept the reality where you are not here with us anymore.

When we met again in San Francisco 7 years ago, my heart was filled with joy and pride seeing you are living the life that I ever dreamed of in New York with a beautiful family. You gave me hope when I was lost far away from home. I had no doubt that we would have plenty of chances to spend time together in the future - looking back on this moment with a smile. That gave me strength to go on with my life.

Now I pray you are in a better place with an unburdened heart. I pray you rest in peace. I will cherish your time with us and treasure your legacy with my life.

Daseul - I was lucky enough to have you, my friend. You will be dearly missed.

I met Dase while at KKR and it was not until we started working closely together that I understood the brilliance everyone saw in him. As everyone knew, when in doubt, Dase would know.

I will never forget strolling into his office to talk about something work-related yet 20 mins would go by without realizing we hadn’t touched upon what we intended to since we were too busy laughing or micro-analyzing a crazy work email we received. I learned so much from Dase in that short time about being a lawyer and even when I left, he continued to humor all my crazy questions as I navigated a new world.

 I still can’t grasp this tragedy, but we’ll never forget you and all that you were; the most diligent, empathetic and hardworking person. My deepest condolences to the family. 

It has been an honor and a privilege to know Dase.   We hold him and all of your family close to our hearts.  Please know that he will always be remembered.
We love you all,
Valentina, Paul and Matteo

Dase and I went to law school together. We lived on the same floor our 1L year and we used to get take out together. I remember him showing me his million pairs of jeans and his shoes. He helped me move to my new place. We spent more than a few late nights in the library together. His death is unbelievable. It's a shock. 

My sincerest condolences to his family.

Wilson

I don’t know the circumstances but this is tragic.  I knew Dase at Northwestern, and served with him on a law journal, mostly in ‘06-‘07.  I didn’t know him well, but I always found him to be an exceptionally talented, extremely humble, and funny man, and I'm surprised and saddened by his untimely passing.  

Sean was in my reading class last year, and while I was not fortunate enough to know Daseul well,  I believe had a glimpse of the remarkable man he was by knowing Sean, his kind, thoughtful, and truly delightful son.  Diona, my thoughts and prayers are with you, Sean, and Jamie during this terribly sad time. Warmly, Winnie Barnes

I have had the privilege of teaching Jamie over the last several months. I never had the opportunity to meet her father, but from what I can tell, Jamie's imaginative creativity, zest for learning, and bubbly personality are a testament to her parents' upbringing and their wonderful character. My heart goes out to Jamie, Sean, Diona and the rest of their friends and family during this incredibly difficult time. 

Jamie will be looked after by me at school.  I am her music teacher.  I love Jamie's spark and she is close to my heart.

Dear Diona, Sean and Jamie,

Our deepest condolences to you and your family.  Dase was always lovely to talk to at class events.  We are thinking of you and are here for you in any way that you need.

Warm regards,
The Diggs La Lande Family (Derrick, David and Rashida)

My friend has just lost the only brother whom he always looked up to and so dearly loved. He will always be remembered for the many passions they both shared together, whether in music, career or life and as a continuing source of inspiration to many.  I can't fathom the sense of loss the family is going through at the moment and offer my deepest condolences.

I remember hearing about Dase Kim long before I met him. He had a hallowed reputation among many associates in the halls of Cleary, as an exceptionally skilled lawyer and good teacher. Then in 2014 we worked closely together on a significant acquisition, which was an important milestone in each of our developing careers. We built a fast camaraderie and consulted one another frequently thereafter as we moved on to other challenges. He taught me a lot about capital markets and I tried to teach him some things about M&A. I looked up to him and admired him, for much more than just his technical expertise. He was a good man.  

We were supposed to have lunch on March 11, 2020. The night before, we decided to postpone because of the pandemic. It was probably the prudent thing to do, but I will always wish we'd had that lunch. He will be dearly missed. My sincerest condolences to Diona and his family. Rest well, Dase. 


​I am deeply sorry to hear about the heart-breaking news. 
I won't forget your kindness and consideration. 

May he rest in peace.

- Narae’s friend, kiyeon

I am very sorry for your loss. I am heartbroken for you and your family. I will always remember my friend Daseul as being a kind, funny, and great person. I am grateful for his friendship and he will be missed. My deepest condolences to you, your children, Daseul's parents, and his brother.  May he rest in peace.

Dearest Diona, Sean and Jamie,

We are sending you so much love during this deeply sad time. You are a special and kind family and we are thinking of you always. You are in our prayers. We miss seeing Sean at school this year and look forward to seeing him soon! 

Lots of love,
The Mondre Family 
Xx

나래언니 그리고 다슬오빠께..

갑작스런 비보를 듣고.. 이 메시지가 전달이 될지 모르나, 한국에서 찾아뵐수가 없어 이렇게라도 메시지를 보냅니다.

너무나 비통하고 황망하여 눈물이 납니다.

특히나 나래언니를 생각하니..

로스쿨 시절 두분의 아름답던 모습과 그 시절이 떠올라 가슴이 너무 아립니다.

고인이 되신 다슬오빠의 명복을 간절히 빌며
나래언니께도 위로의 말씀 남깁니다.


Dear Daseul  Family,
My name is Nobu IDE, working with Alison in Wacom Tokyo. Though I have not met with Daseul in person, but please let me send by the deepest pray for Daseul and family. I can feel his soul through Alison. Representing the all team members of Wacom, please let me say that we are together with you.
Thank you,
Nobu IDE from Tokyo


OBITUARY

Daseul Kim

July 27, 1976 – May 23, 2021

Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel

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