When Microsoft suspended support for Internet Explorer earlier this week, one person decided to mark the occasion with a bit of humor. According to Reuters, Jung Ki-young software spent 430,000 won (about $ 330) to design and order a headstone for the web browser before the official end date of support. The monument, located on the roof of his brother’s coffee shop in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, features the iconic IE logo followed by an English epitaph that reads, “It was a good tool for downloading other browsers.”
Jung told Reuters that he commissioned the monument to commemorate a program that had defined his career. While apps like Chrome and Firefox have replaced Internet Explorer in both prominence and popularity, many of Jung’s customers have asked him to make sure their websites look good in Microsoft’s aging web browser. “It was a pain in the ass, but I would call it a love-hate relationship because Explorer himself dominated an era,” he said.
As funny as the tombstone may be, it can be premature. Microsoft still plans to support Internet Explorer in some contexts. For example, Edge IE mode will continue to run until 2029 or later. In addition, parts of the world, including countries such as Japan, continue to use the web browser for business and government administration.