Washington, D.C. – Korean Americans, as well as others in the larger Asian Pacific American community, have a good reason to proudly preen about: one of their own will take over the world’s most challenging job.

Ban Ki-Moon, 62, a widely experienced South Korean diplomat and former politician, starts on January 1^st 2007 as the new United Nations Secretary General, succeeding Kofi Annan who has held the five-year long job for two terms ending on December 31st.  He was sworn in on Dec.14, 2006 by the UN General Assembly after besting other top candidates in four straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council.

“It’s a very good news for all of us, for both Korea and the United States,” Lee Tae-Sik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States, said with undisguised confidence and anticipation on Oct. 8, a day before the UN Security Council unanimously chose Ki-Moon as its nominee.  On Oct. 13, the 192-member General Assembly adopted a resolution, by acclamation, appointing him as Secretary General.

The ambassador referred to Ki-Moon when he delivered his keynote address at a gala dinner held in Falls Church, VA by the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington in celebration of its 32^nd anniversary.  He also stressed the role of the United States , which is one of the Security Council’s five-nation permanent members, for its strong support for Ki-Moon’s nomination.

“Had it not been for the United States’ support from behind, we would not have become the next Secretary General,” he said as the 300-big audience, which included some members of the diplomatic corps and national and local U.S. elected officials, applauded its appreciation. “This was just a dream, a remote dream, and now it is a reality.”

Reactions from Korean Community

Steven Ilsang Yoon, PhD, curator/associate librarian at Howard University, noted with approval Ki-Moon’s strong support for dialog [as expressed in his interviews with mainstream media].

“I think that augurs well for North and South Korea , as he could be a good mediator for world peace,” Yoon told Asian Fortune during the dinner. He was referring to the two Koreas separated by the Demilitarized Zone after the Korean War in the 50’s.

Yoon also noted the future UN secretary general’s familiarity with the local metropolitan D.C.-based Korean American community as he was posted twice to the Republic of Korea [ROK] embassy in Washington, D.C.

“We invited him so many times to events such as this dinner, and got to know him as an exemplary diplomat. He has a wide experience, including grassroots, for almost 40 years…that should make him a good UN secretary general.”

Harold Pyon, an active community leader in the APA community, also approves of Ki-Moon’s stated preference for dialog while expressing pride in his achievements.  Mindful of the current attempt of the so-called Six-Party Talks [involving six countries China , Japan , Russia , the United States , and the two North and South Koreas ] to convince North Korea not to produce nuclear weapon, he told Asian Fortune, “It’s good that he is from South Korea and that he is for a strong policy for dialog.”

[As this writing, however, the latest attempt of the six-party talks failed on Dec. 22, evoking disappointment from Ki-Moon.]

Meets JFK, Decides to be Diplomat

Ki-Moon’s ties to the U.S. come in many ways. 

Like the young and future U.S. president Bill Clinton, Ki-Moon too, as a high school student, met President John F. Kennedy after winning an English language competition that took him to Washington, D.C.  It was that meeting, he said, that made him want to become a diplomat.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Seoul National University in 1970 and earned a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.

Starting his diplomatic career in 1970 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he got his first overseas posting in New Delhi, then went on to the following assignments: First Secretary at South Korea’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York City; Director of the United Nations Division, his two postings in Washington D.C.; Director-General for American Affairs 1990-1992; Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations in 1995; National Security Advisor to the President in 1996; Vice Minister in 2000. His most recent post was as Foreign Policy Advisor to the President, Noh Moo-Hyun.

Ki-Moon has been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relationships. In 1992, he served as Vice Chairman of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission, following the adoption by South and North Korea of the Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In September 2005, as Foreign Minister, he played a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to adopt the Joint Statement on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue at the Fourth Round of the Six-Party Talks held in Beijing.

Ki-Moon is the second Asian to hold the post of UN Secretary General; the first was U Thant of Burma who completed two terms ending in 1971. Another Asian, Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines , was elected President of the UN General Assembly in 1949, the first Asian to occupy that post.

Other diplomats vetted for the post were Thailand ’s Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, Sri Lanka ’s diplomat Jayantha Dhanapal, and Shashi Thrakoor of India who currently is the UN Under Secretary for Communications.

While pride in Ki-Moon’s rise to the UN leadership glazed the gala atmosphere, the significance of the KCSC’s 32^nd anniversary was the whole evening’s pervasive theme “Enhancing Family Values, Strengthening Community.”  In his keynote remarks, Amb. Tae-Sik meticulously praised Korean Americans for their long dedication to community service, citing their helping young and elderly alike on accessing food stamps, housing facilities, English classes, computer training, youth activities, among others.

Guiding Light for 50,000

Noting that the Center had started in 1974, he said, “You have served as a guiding light for 50,000 Koreans in this area, especially those who are new in this country.”

He took note of their many service programs, which, listed in the glossy anniversary souvenir program filled with mostly Korean business ads, include immigrant empowerment, health promotion, youth empowerment, strengthening family, and organization infrastructure improvements.  Altogether, for the fiscal year 2004 to 2005, they raised $625,020 and spent $611,707. 

The Center has two branches in Maryland and one in Virginia, and is run by a board of directors with Key Young Kim as chairman.  Among its track record of efficient work is its partnering with Montgomery County, dispensing clinic services through Mobile Medical Care, and reaching some 42,000 uninsured patients by June 2006.

The ambassador also noted that while their economic success in the United States has helped develop a sense of unity among Korean Americans as demonstrated by their laudable dedication to community service, it is, however, in his view, “not enough.”

Urges Political Voice

“You need to have a stronger voice, success in politics,” he said. “When people become interested in politics, it could also make them united. I encourage you to become more political because it is the only way that you can make your voice heard, that you can become more influential in the U.S. ”

He mentioned certain issues that Korean Americans should have a voice on: such as the issue of “comfort women” who are still fighting for justice for being used as sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, and for which Virginia Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-11^th) has presented a Resolution of support that was adopted on Dec. 13, 2006 by the U.S. Congress, but is being opposed by Japan.

On Comfort Women

The ambassador urged his audience to support this legislation. 

“When Congress comes back in January, we believe that this bill will be passed,” Rep. Davis, who introduced the ambassador at the gala dinner, told Asian Fortune, but cautiously added, “yet we are confronted by strong opposition from Japan .”

Elaborating further on the comfort women legislation, H.R. 795, Davis told Asian Fortune, “The problem is the Japanese Government has objected to it, [claiming] that support for it is offensive, even when the facts are very, very clear…I support the Resolution and would like to get it to the House floor…I think Congress has an opportunity to express itself and pass it overwhelmingly…but the Japanese Government is putting the pressure on the leadership not to do that.”

[The comfort women legislation will presumably be taken up in the 110^th Congress, with Davis’ support, and possibly with the Democrats’?]

 Referring to the concern of “how to deal with North Korea ,” Amb.Tae-sik noted that while U.S.-South Korean alliance “has survived for the last 50 years,” both countries are facing the need to review, “without mincing words, the importance of restructuring to be stronger.”

Review of Joint US-ROK Forces

He called for the review of the issue of reducing the presence of U.S. troops in demilitarized zone between the two Koreas “from 40,000 to 20,000 by 2008.”  This would be in an effort to modernize the joint command structure to reflect both U.S. and South Korean interests in a more balanced manner – what he called “a transfer of operational control of Korean forces and U.S. troops for a combined command system.”

“This is a U.S. decision, not only for the reduction of military forces but [also for an assessment of] what kind of structure [to achieve] that could better serve U.S.- South Korean interests.”

This move, however, would not mean that South Korea would be totally independent, and that there would not be a “diminishing of support from the U.S. to South Korean fighting capability.”

The transfer of control, he said, could be either in 2009 or 2012.

The ambassador, who is fluent in French and has great command of English, also touched on free trade agreement (FTA) that is being worked out between his country and the U.S.

Free Trade with US

Free trade is “extremely important” to Korea, he said, as, if it happens, it would open up more access to U.S. markets, improve the economy, and even raise the projected average national income of $30,000 to $40,000. However, he acknowledged that there are some opposing voices.

 “Many people in Korea have raised their voices opposing why we are doing this with the U.S. , fearing that we will be the victims of a free trade agreement,” he said. “I categorically deny those allegations. Why stay put and be satisfied? We are not going to advance our economy [this way], and that’s why we have to move forward with the FTA.”

He also urged the expansion of the U.S. program to allow more Korean students’ entry into the U.S.   He noted that of the 850,000 Koreans who visited the U.S. , 84,000 were students studying in U.S. schools.

The determination of North Korea to continue building its nuclear capability and the threat that it is perceived to peace is deep concern of the ambassador, who in his diplomatic career has played important roles in international dialog over the issue.

He did not mince his words, saying, “It is a serious, worrisome concern in the East…We will be the first victim of nuclear power, the U.S. is too far away. We have to work hard on the deterrent to this nuclear threat.”

The gala dinner, held at the Double Tree Hotel in Tyson’s Corner, was chaired by Angela Youngja Kim, with program support from Esther Park, KCSC Executive Director. Four awards were given: “Community Service Award” to Dr. Dong Soo Hwang, a surgeon, and John Kim, President, Global Food; and “Plaque of Appreciation” to Freddie Mac Foundation and to Korean Central Presbyterian Church.

Ike Leggett, who later on Nov. 3 was elected Montgomery County Executive, also attended the event. After glad-handing other guests, he told Asian Fortune, “I’m really delighted to be here to witness firsthand some of the tremendous work that has been accomplished.  Hopefully, Montgomery County will be able to assist those types of programs so that dollars can be used much more efficiently.  It’s important that we provide resources to community organizations that have the right contact to the community and [can] deliver the services.  Oftentimes, they do better than the government can.”

Soprano Kotnim Chung, with pianist/accompanist Eun Sil Kim, performing “Un bel di” aria from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and an encore “Paris Angelicus” by Cesar Franck, provided a delightful classical entertainment. 

Official greetings [printed in the program] were given by the following: U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), Rep. Frank Wolf (D-VA), Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, Fairfax County Mason District Supervisor Penelope A. Gross, Fairfax County Board Member Sharon Bulova, Montgomery County Council President George L. Leventhal, and Montgomery County Council Member Tony Perez.

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CAPTION:

BAN KI-MOON, UN Secretary General  (Photo credit: Seth Wenig, AP)