on behalf of the Korean minority in Japan "made him a national hero in South Korea". The 1992 South Korean film Kim's War, portrayed him as a hero. The Arson Incident Kwon was released on parole on 7 September 1999 at the age of 70, on the condition that he would never return to Japan. He moved to South Korea where he changed his name to his original of 'Kwon Hyi-ro'. He was considered in South Korea as "the hero who resisted discrimination", and was given a luxury flat and living expenses. However, on 3 September 2000, he broke into his lover's apartment in Busan City, attacked her husband, and set fire to the apartment. He was arrested on an attempted murder and suspicion of arson and, after being diagnosed as having a personality disorder, was sent to a sanitarium. As a result, a Korean musical about his life that had already scheduled an international tour was abruptly cancelled, just before its premiere. He was released in 2003. Death In his later years, citing "visiting his mother's grave in Japan, Kim planned to petition the Japanese Ministry of Justice for permission to enter Japan through the Korean government in March 2010. However, he died of prostate cancer at a hospital in Busan on March 26, 2010, at the age of 81. He wished to be buried at his mother's gravesite in Kakegawa City, but due to discord with his family, it was never realized and the ashes were scattered off the coast of Busan and at the site of the incident. References External links Life of Kwon Hyi-ro Kim Hyi-ro's case Monthly interview on Kim South Korean murderer released after 31 years 1928 births 2010 deaths 20th-century criminals Burglars Deaths from cancer in South Korea Deaths from prostate cancer People convicted of fraud Korean people convicted of murder Korean prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment People convicted of murder by Japan People from Shizuoka (city) People paroled from life sentence Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Japan Thieves Zainichi Korean people