Gui Junmin insists that he continues to love his wife, a victim of lung cancer, who has been frozen in time since 2017, and says that his new partner has a merely “utilitarian” role.
The husband of first cryopreserved woman in China, a victim of lung cancer, launched an intense moral debate after starting a new relationship — while his wife remains in cryogenic storage.
Gui Junmin57 years old, professional in the sports sector, decided, in 2017, to resort to cryopreservation for women, Zhan Wenlianafter the doctors gave him only few months of life.
Junmin saw in this solution the only way to avoid losing itin the hope that it could waking up again if a cure for cancer were foundsays .
Zhan, 48, became the first cryopreserved person in China, after her husband signed a 30-year agreement with the Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Research Institute.
founded in 2015, had then partnered with Shandong University’s Qilu Hospital to carry out experimental human cryopreservation trials, offering free procedures for the first volunteers.
In the two years following the procedure, Gui remained steadfastly decided to remain single. But in 2020, he suffered a severe attack of gout one morning and was unable to reach his cell phone. Was immobilized for two days until family members broke down the door and found him.
“If something really happens to a person who lives alonethere is nothing you can do. You can die at home without anyone noticing”, contou Junmin.
Later, he was introduced to his current partner, Wang Chunxiathrough a friend. At the time, Wang was working in insurance sales and initially saw Gui as a client. She ended up becoming his companion.
Gui describes Wang as having a simple and kind personalitysimilar to that of his wife, and says he appreciates her sincerity and frankness. She took care of him with attention: he brought him tea, reminded him of his medication and treated him patiently.
Still, Gui felt that there was a gap between his life experiences and their financial situation, and admitted that his choice to be with Wang was merely utilitarian. “She hasn’t entered my heart yet. I feel responsibility for her, but this is a complicated issue”, he stated.
“She you can never replace my wifer. I can’t just erase the past, but I also need to continue living,” he added.
Gui is financially stable and is inserted in respectable social circles. Wang, in turn, comes from a rural backgrounddropped out of school in seventh grade and worked in factories, as a waitress and, later, managed a hairdressing salon.
He struggles with deeper questions: could marrying Wang be considered bigamy in the future? If Zhan is revived, how should the assets be managed?
Despite insisting that Zhan is irreplaceable, can no longer live without Wang. After surgery to place coronary stents, he had difficulty balancing and now You need her help even to cross the street.
The story sparked controversy on social media. “Now he has a woman in his arms while he hopes to meet another in 30 years,” wrote one user. “What is this: emotional polygamy?”
“Gui may appear deeply devoted, but in reality, this is emotional detachment. His alleged love for Zhan seems more like an obsession with the role of ‘grieving husband’. Just see what it’s like cold and distant with his partnerl,” said another.
“If that’s the case, why start a new relationship? And, if you do, why not treat the new partner with true affection? This kind of devotion is not noble; is selfish”, concludes a third.
