20s Geumsujeo Shooter vs 50s Heuksujeo CEO... Life and Public Sentiment at Opposite Extremes

Little Sympathy for Deceased Thompson
Some Praise and Support for Mangioni's Actions
Self-Reflection Arises Over Flaws in US Medical System

Brian Thompson, CEO of the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group, the largest health insurance company in the United States, was shot and killed in the heart of Manhattan, New York. Amid this, foreign media have focused on the contrasting 'life trajectories' of CEO Thompson and his shooter, Luigi Mangione.

On the 15th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported, "Thompson was born into a rural family and, through relentless effort, rose to the pinnacle of capitalism as the CEO of an insurance company. In contrast, Mangione was born with a so-called 'silver spoon,' became aware of societal contradictions, and grew to despise capitalism," adding, "The lives of the victim and the killer, who met on the streets of Manhattan on the 4th, are completely opposite."

Brian Thompson, CEO, and shooter Luigi Mangioni who died in the shooting. UnitedHealth Group · X

Thompson, the CEO who died from the shooting, was the youngest son of a father who operated a small grain warehouse in Iowa and attended a small public school. He later earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa, joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004, and became CEO in 2021 after 17 years. Those around Thompson told WP that he was a perfectionist who wanted to be the best at everything.

Unlike Thompson, Mangione grew up in a wealthy family that owned a luxury golf course and nursing home in Maryland. In his childhood, he graduated as valedictorian from Gilman School, a private high school with expensive tuition, and later earned bachelor's and master's degrees in computer engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school in the eastern United States. Despite living a life envied by many, the declaration he carried at the time of his arrest stated, "The United States has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet ranks only 42nd in life expectancy. Health insurance company employees who prioritize profit over public interest must be punished."

'Thompson' treated as villain, Mangione as 'hero' sparks self-reflection in the U.S.

Meanwhile, while some netizens on social media defended Mangione's crime, there was little sympathy for the deceased Thompson. Rather, some netizens described Thompson as a 'villain,' sparking controversy within the United States. Furthermore, after Mangione's identity was revealed, not only did supporters emerge, but some even cheered and applauded him, according to a recent report by The New York Times (NYT).

After Mangioni's identity was revealed, not only did people support him, but there were also those who cheered and applauded him, the New York Times (NYT) recently reported. Photo by AP and Yonhap News Agency

In fact, many posts on X (formerly Twitter) appear to justify Thompson's death. Examples include: "Thompson is one of the most violent people in the world. He caused millions of deaths and destroyed families. This person (Mangione) is a national hero," and "The person who stole $70,000 a year (about 100 million KRW) and rejected half of the damn (insurance) claims thankfully died today." Many of these posts also shared photos of documents showing denied insurance claims from UnitedHealth Group.

In fact, many posts on X (formerly Twitter) appear to justify Thomson's death. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Experts analyze that this public sentiment reflects long-standing anger toward the U.S. healthcare system. Specifically, a survey conducted by the nonprofit healthcare think tank KFF in March found that about half of American adults said they struggled to afford medical expenses, and one in four delayed or gave up necessary treatment or prescriptions due to cost. The political media outlet Politico reported, "Among 1,340 American adults, 36% have been denied health insurance coverage at least once," adding, "It is not difficult to understand why many people support attacks against Thompson."

As criticism of insurance companies intensifies in the United States, the death of CEO Thompson has sparked voices of criticism and reflection on the insurance system in American society. On the 13th, Andrew Witty, chairman of UnitedHealth Group, wrote in an op-ed for the NYT, "There are clearly flaws in the U.S. healthcare system. We must fix them," adding, "No one intended to create the healthcare system as it is now. Even now, we will cooperate with hospitals, healthcare providers, patients, pharmaceutical companies, and the government to pursue healthcare reform."