[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.
____________________