[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        YANKTON AND KANGNUNG: BUILDING A BRIDGE OF UNDERSTANDING

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I wish to express my support for and 
confidence in the growing relations between the United States and 
Republic of Korea. I am particularly proud of the efforts of officials 
in Yankton, SD, who are encouraging diplomatic ties between my home 
State of South Dakota and the Republic of Korea.
  Yankton leaders are working to make Yankton a sister city with 
Kangnung City of the Republic of Korea. I believe that Yankton and 
Kangnung, as growing tourist centers in their respective nations, will 
become excellent sister cities. I have also extended a personal 
invitation to the mayor and city council chairman of Kangnung City to 
visit Yankton in support of the sister city efforts.
  I applaud the efforts of Mr. Milo Dailey, a Yankton resident, who 
traveled to the Republic of Korea as a liaison between the people and 
city government of Yankton and the people of the Republic of Korea. 
Milo's hard work, dedication, and sincerity are commendable. His 
efforts are designed to promote diplomacy and good will.
  Joining Milo were a group of citizens from Yankton, including his 
wife Carla--the managing editor of Taekwondo World magazine, Marian 
Gunderson--chairman of the South Dakota water development board, Marge 
Gross, Dr. Duane and Kay Reany, and Karen Pederson.
  Another group from Yankton soon will be visiting Korea and Kangnung 
City, including Carla Dailey, Yankton City commissioner Bill Fejfar and 
his wife, and chamber of commerce executive vice president Mary Anne 
Hoxeng.
  I support strong ties between cities in the United States and cities 
in foreign countries. Such grassroots local efforts establish 
foundations for stronger, more informed, diplomatic relations at higher 
levels of government. I encourage the work of the Yankton Chamber of 
Commerce and their liaison, Milo Dailey, in fostering stronger ties 
with the Republic of Korea.
  The city of Yankton is a lovely city with much to offer its residents 
and visitors. It is a fine example of a small, rural city willing to 
promote positive relations with a foreign country. I commend Yankton 
city residents and local government officials for extending their hands 
in friendship to people in the Republic of Korea. Mr. President, again 
I applaud the sincere endeavors of Milo Dailey and the people of 
Yankton, SD, as they continue strengthening our friendly relations with 
the people of the Republic of Korea.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a trip report from Milo 
Dailey concerning his recent visit to the Republic of Korea be inserted 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the report was ordered to printed in the 
Record, as follows:

 Trip Report on Yankton, SD, Delegation Visit to Kangnung, Kangwon-Do, 
         Republic of Korea for Sister City Program Development

       Dear Senator Pressler: First, let me thank you on behalf of 
     a small delegation of Yankton, South Dakota, people who 
     visited Kangnung City in Korea. Your personal efforts have 
     had a special role in paving the way for the Sister City 
     program between our two cities. As our Senator and member of 
     the Foreign Relations Committee, these efforts have, we 
     believe, been vital in our small effort to improve our 
     international relationships with Korea.
       We visited Kangnung City November 9 and 10 of 1993. 
     Included in the delegation were Milo Dailey, chairman of the 
     Yankton Sister City Commission and managing editor of the 
     Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan newspaper; Carla Dailey, 
     managing editor of Taekwondo World Magazine, one of the 
     nation's largest martial arts magazines and the largest home 
     circulation magazine in martial arts; Marian Gunderson, 
     chairman of the South Dakota Water development board 
     appointed by three state governors to the board; Marge Gross, 
     a well-known Yankton, state and national level volunteer 
     worker; Dr. Duane Reaney and Kay Reaney; and Karen Pederson.
       We were accompanied by a well-known leader in the Korean-
     American community, Taekwondo Grand Master H.U. Lee and his 
     wife, both of Little Rock, Arkansas; his brother and 
     Taekwondo Master Soon Ho Lee of Panama City, Florida.
       Grand Master Lee, a longtime U.S. citizen and head of the 
     American Taekwondo Association, has been instrumental in 
     aiding our Sister City program. As a leader in the Korean-
     American community, he is very interested in helping to 
     improve relations between his native and his adopted 
     countries. Although he had other business to conduct in 
     Korea, he took special time to accompany us to Kangnung as 
     well as several special tours in and around Seoul. Master 
     Soon Ho Lee accompanied us on special tours of the Seoul 
     area; and the specific purpose for his trip was to be a full-
     time guide and translator for the Yankton group. He traveled 
     at his own and Grand Master Lee's expense.
       The purpose of this trip for the Yankton delegation was:
       1. To show more Yankton people the Kangnung community.
       2. To cement relations with Kangnung City during the Korean 
     government's consideration for approval of the relationship 
     required for Korean cities.
       3. To show our continuing interest after Mr. Dailey had 
     visited Kangnung in April of this year with Grand Master Lee, 
     and a visit of a Kangnung delegation to Yankton over the 
     September Labor Day weekend to determine suitability of the 
     relationship for their government to approve the 
     relationship.
       4. We discovered on the trip that we also played a role in 
     helping Kangnung civic entities to meet and work together as 
     well as experience we had already found true in Yankton 
     during the September visit of the Kangnung delegation.
       5. Indirectly, to help both Americans and Koreans better 
     understand each other as partners in trade, cultural exchange 
     and world security arrangements.
       Also, Mr. and Mrs. Dailey gathered material for editorial 
     use in both local and national publications to promote good 
     relations between the two communities and nations.
       Grand Master Lee first handled the travel arrangements for 
     the Yankton group, and secured exceptional travel and 
     accommodations rates for us.
       We arrived in Seoul, spent a short night there, then flew 
     to Sok Cho airport north of Kangnung City. Sok Cho currently 
     serves Kangnung while an international airport is under 
     construction there. On our arrival, we were met by a 
     delegation of Kangnung city officials and members of their 
     own Sister City Commission. They drove us south to their 
     community along the northwest coast of Korea.
       On our arrival at Kangnung City, we were greeted at the 
     Hotel Kangnung with a huge banner on the front of the 
     building proclaiming welcome to the Yankton delegation.
       During the next two days came a rapid-fire circuit of 
     talks, tours and meals hosted by various segments of Kangnung 
     public and private society.
       At a formal reception in the office of the mayor of 
     Kangnung City, we presented a traditionally-crafted antler-
     handled Sioux knife and head-beaded sheath to Mayor Dae Keun 
     Lee (Lee, Dae-keun). We received in return the first of many 
     special gifts presented to us as in Korean custom. We chose 
     the knife as a gift because our city is the location of the 
     first major meeting between the expedition of Lewis and Clark 
     and representatives of Sioux Indian tribal groups. Our city's 
     name is derived from the Dakota name for end (of the) 
     village.
       Although the rest of the receptions and dinners were a 
     whirl of activity, there are several major points that may be 
     of special interest to you both as our U.S. Senator and as a 
     member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
       1. Although all of us have been only too aware that North 
     Korea had been rattling sabers at the time of our visit, no 
     mention of this was made to us during our trip.
       2. We have been told that efforts are being made in the 
     R.O.K. government to speed the Sister City approval there. 
     This, again, indicates interest in an improving relationship 
     between peers at a state and national level, as well as at 
     the city level of government.
       3. The growth in Kangnung which was obvious to our 
     delegation indicates a vital economy and interest in 
     nationwide development in Korea. The new international 
     airport, highway improvement and major growth at the national 
     university there all attest to this.
       4. Among tour and entertainment segments of our visit, we 
     saw local historic sites, a newly-created ethnological 
     museum, and a reception featuring traditional music and some 
     of the most modern arts. We met outstanding young artists as 
     well as senior area officials; and all seemed very supportive 
     of improving relations between our cities and countries.
       5. All indications are of a city and nation which reveres 
     the best of its long history, yet is making subtle cultural 
     and obvious material changes to be a full national partner 
     with the U.S., and one with whom we can be very proud to 
     accompany to a common future. It is obvious we share many 
     common economic and cultural interests, as well as a desire 
     for democratic free market economies with individual 
     opportunity encouraged.
       6. Grand Master H.U. Lee of Little Rock, Arkansas, Master 
     Soon Ho Lee of Panama City, Florida, Mr. C.S. Kim of Kim 
     Pacific Trading in San Francisco, California, and Dr. Jong-
     pil Kim, chairman of the Korean Democratic Liberal Party all 
     have made special personal efforts in the promotion of the 
     Yankton-Kangnung Sister City relationship. Their only thanks 
     are those words which we and fellow Americans can offer them 
     for their efforts in improving international understanding. 
     Other personal friends of Grand Master Lee were instrumental 
     in making our visit and tours unique for American tourists 
     and more than enjoyable. This commitment to international 
     understanding is exemplary.
       7. Our Yankton group was accompanied by letters from our 
     state's Sen. Pressler of the foreign relations committee, 
     Sen. Tom Daschle and Rep. Tim Johnson. This bipartisan 
     support was reflected at one reception that apparently was 
     more special than we recognized. Representatives of different 
     parties and governmental agencies that seldom meet with each 
     other did indeed meet with us together. The support of South 
     Dakota leaders of both parties toward this civic and cultural 
     exchange is reflected in the response from the Kangnung area.
       We also would like to give special mention to other Korean 
     people from Kangnung City whose personal efforts and 
     leadership in international relations are worthy of 
     emulation:
       1. Mayor Dae-Keun Lee of Kangnung City deserves special 
     mention. Although new in this position, the common ground of 
     martial arts in making a more peaceful world through mutual 
     respect plays a major role in his support. He is a senior 
     Taekwondo practitioner with a solid background of government 
     service. Grand Master Lee is the head of the largest U.S. 
     martial arts (and Taekwondo) group and the fastest-growing 
     worldwide martial arts association. Yankton's Sister City 
     Commission Chairman Dailey and Mrs. Dailey also are longtime 
     practitioners of the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.
       2. Kangnung City officials Young-nam Kim and Yang-jin Kim. 
     Mr. Young-nam Kim has studied in the United States, served as 
     translator during Mr. Dailey's April visit to Kangnung and 
     this trip, and visited Yankton in September. He is a district 
     city manager. Mr. Yang-jin Kim is head of the Kangnung 
     planning department and was very active as a special host to 
     the Yankton group. He also visited Yankton in September.
       3. Mr. Soon-ok Lee, of the Kangnung Sister City commission. 
     Mr. Lee helped to host Mr. Dailey last April, visited Yankton 
     in September and currently is wearing one of Mr. Dailey's 
     South Dakota-purchased western hats.
       4. Prof. Kyung-dae Min, professor of English literature at 
     Kangnung National University, and his wife. Prof. Min studied 
     literature in the U.S., and he and his wife both polished 
     English skills informally during their stay in our country. 
     He also is a poet published both in English and Korean 
     languages. Prof. Min aided in translating and guiding us 
     during the November trip, as did his wife.
       5. President Lee of Kangnung National University whose 
     support of our visit in November was obvious in his luncheon 
     hosting of our group as well as special gifts.
       6. Many others, including well-know Kangnung architect and 
     artist Mr. Ahn, Moon Hyo.
       Overall, although there was no official meeting, the 
     members of the Yankton delegation felt that the trip to 
     Kangnung, and the subsequent tour of Seoul and the area, were 
     of great value in our understanding of Korean culture past 
     and present. It seems also that our delegation also had a 
     unifying value in Kangnung.
       We hope that our visit is only the first of continuing 
     relationship with Kangnung; and that our example will be one 
     for other American cities and individuals to follow.
       Although Mr. Dailey has been to Korea a number of times and 
     has great appreciation for the Korean people and their 
     culture and goals, the other members of the delegation on 
     their first trips to Korea very rapidly developed a similar 
     appreciation.
       The Korean people obviously share the American traditional 
     work ethic that so often is exemplified in South Dakota 
     people. They are very proud of their accomplishments and much 
     prefer to emphasize these rather than the difficulties they 
     have encountered in building modern national, cultural and 
     industrial power over the past 35 years.
       The growing importance of Asia in South Dakota and American 
     trade and other relationships was continuously made obvious 
     to members of our group. We hope sincerely that our 
     delegation has played a small role in improving relationships 
     between our nations.
       As the U.S. was the first nation to have a treaty with 
     Korea over a century ago, we hope that our two nations will 
     continue a strong, friendly and fruitful relationship. As our 
     relationship has weathered misunderstandings and local 
     problems in the past, we sincerely support efforts to 
     continue this natural and friendly relationship over the 
     years, decades and centuries to come.

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