Posted on 07/07/2004 8:54:17 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
GIs Speak of ROK-US Friendship in Korean
By Jung Sung-ki -- Thirteen U.S. soldiers Wednesday took turns in speaking at the podium of a theater in Yongsan Garrison, the center of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), Seoul, but the language they had chosen was not English but Korean.
While their pronunciation may have been awkward, their zeal was also evident. Accompanying the speeches by those trying their hand at the Korean language was the laughter of a theater full of their fellow soldiers. There seemed to be no place for stage fright.
This was how the sixth Korean speech contest for U.S. soldiers unfolded at the Balboni Theater in Yongsan Garrison. The annual event was hosted by the ROK Army Support Group, which takes care of KATUSAs, soldiers of the Korean Army who work with U.S. soldiers in Korea. ``I have never seen any crack in the ROK-U.S. alliance, at least at army posts,'' Private First Class James Luxemburg, one of the contestants, told The Korea Times. ``We are trying to understand each other and maintain good relationships with KATUSA soldiers.''
The contestants were from five bases in the Korean theater, including Eighth U.S. Army headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division in Uijongbu, the truce village of Panmunjom, Pyongtaek and Taegu. They had all passed preliminary rounds at their local commands. Most of the contestants spoke of their love of the Korean people and local foods, or humorous episodes they had encountered while stationed in South Korea. Some recited Korean poems or sang Korean pop songs.
About 400 South Korean and U.S. soldiers had fun watching their fellow soldiers doing their best to pronounce Korean words properly, often reacting with a burst of laughter or a round of applause.
``This Korean speech contest has been playing an important role in not only helping improve U.S. soldiers' language abilities but also strengthening mutual understanding between the two armies and moreover the two countries,'' said Ha Sung-woo, ROKA staff officer in charge of troop information and education. About 750 U.S. soldiers attend Korean classes taught by volunteer teachers from among KATUSAs.
Kim Ho-young, a KATUSA corporal, stressed the good relationship with U.S. soldiers, saying, ``The media should sometimes see the bright side of the alliance.'' He mentioned the negative media reports concerning friction between the two allies over the relocation of the Yongsan post.
``As soldiers, we are fully committed to the missions we get,'' said one officer.
``A diplomatic issue is one thing, and a military mission is another,'' he said. ``Both the ROK and U.S. Armies have the same mission to protect the Korean Peninsula, and we will do our best to accomplish the mission as well as improve the relationship between the two countries.''
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
07-07-2004 21:03
Bttt
(But come onnnnn....., I thought there would be more replies to this thread by THIS time.)
Can you imagine? Not a single post, outside of you and I! ?
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