[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22897]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             WELCOMING SOUTH KOREAN FIRST LADY KIM YOON-OK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 29, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the most 
graceful and important women to grace our shores, the distinguished 
First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Kim Yoon-Ok.
  Ms. Yoon-ok majored in public health education at Ewha Woman's 
University, the fourth First Lady to have graduated from this 
prestigious university. While her husband's career eventually took him 
from the private sector to the highest public office in their country, 
she has carved out her own reputation as a strong advocate of the 
rights of women, children and families in South Korea and around the 
world.
  Ms. Yoon-ok was in New York last week, not only accompanying her 
husband's visit to the United Nations but also hosting a luncheon in 
honor of those soldiers--American and Korean--who gave their lives for 
their democratic nation. It is a war that I am quite familiar with. 
More than 50 years ago, I fought with millions of Americans to help 
preserve South Korea's independence during the invasion from communist 
Korea in 1950. That is why I was very happy this summer when President 
Obama signed a bill into law that recognized these sacrifices. The bill 
that I introduced recognizes the 1953 armistice with the display of the 
American flag each July 27th, that day declared as National Korean War 
Veterans Armistice Day.
  As a Korean war veteran, it gives me great pride to see how the 
nation has flourished as a democratic and free people. Today, the 
Republic of Korea is the 13th largest economy in the world and the 
United States' 8th largest trading partner. Recently, the IMF raised 
Korea's growth forecast for this year from the growth amount that was 
originally projected a few months ago, further stating that the 
nation's growth will increase 2.5 percent next year.
  Freedom, of course, is not something that is static. It must be 
fought for and defended by every generation. So, as the relationships 
between our two countries continue to grow and deepen, we cannot forget 
that our economic and cultural prosperity is built on the achievements 
and accomplishments of our ancestors. It is a sacrifice we are proud to 
celebrate, today and forever.

                          ____________________