A man who opted to preserve his deceased wife through cryogenic freezing has stirred discussion by entering a new relationship.
Gui Junmin chose to freeze his wife Zhan Wenlian’s body following her passing due to lung cancer in 2017 at age 49. Zhan became China’s first cryogenically preserved individual under a 30-year agreement with the Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Research Institute. Initially, the preservation was done free of charge as the institute sought volunteers to test the technology.
Junmin’s plan was to reunite with Zhan after the preservation period, hoping that advancements in treatments could potentially reverse her terminal cancer diagnosis.
Zhan’s body has been stored in a 2,000-liter container filled with liquid nitrogen at -190°C since 2017. Following his wife’s demise, Junmin remained single for two years but eventually found it challenging to manage life alone.
Junmin shared with a Chinese newspaper that a severe gout attack, which left him immobilized for two days, altered his perspective. He expressed the vulnerability of being alone in times of crisis, leading him to seek companionship.
Subsequently, Junmin met Wang Chunxia, his current girlfriend, through a mutual acquaintance. Despite acknowledging a sense of responsibility towards her, he mentioned that their relationship was more pragmatic than emotional. Chunxia primarily supports him as a caregiver post his coronary stent surgery, assisting him even in basic tasks like crossing the road.
In response to public criticism labeling him as emotionally polygamous, Junmin remained unfazed, stating his preparedness for scrutiny. He defended his actions, emphasizing his clear conscience.
The situation has sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media platforms. While some question the man’s future with his preserved wife, others empathize with his need to move forward in life despite past attachments.