By Kang Shin-who
Korea Times Correspondent

NEW YORK ― Many ethnic Koreans in the United States reacted negatively to the Lee Myung-bak government's plan to use a pool of young Korean Americans for the promotion of English education at public schools in rural areas.

On top of pay levels that are far from appealing, they said they see little merit in taking part in the program of volunteering to teach students in rural areas who have few chances to learn English from native English speakers. To attract Korean American students studying at U.S. colleges to the program, the government needs a program to instill a Korean identity into them before asking them to help rural students improve their English, according to the leader of an association of young ethnic Koreans.

President Lee has invited 500 ethnic Koreans in English-speaking countries to Korea to tutor rural students from August. The participants will receive round-trip airfare and allowances of about 1.5 million won ($1,500) per month, as well as a 400,000 won monthly housing allowance.

``I think many ethnic Koreans are ready to work for their homeland for about one year. If we systemize the project, there will be many volunteers,'' Lee said in January.

However, President Lee's plan is apparently getting a lukewarm reaction from Korean Americans in the U.S.

``I am not sure how many Korean American students would apply for the program. How can our children, who don't have a sense of Korean identity, voluntarily work for Korea?'' said Lee Chung-wha, founder of the Korean-American Youth Assistance Coalition (KAYAC) here.

KAYAC President Shin Young-soo also said that the government needs education programs teaching the Korean language, history and culture to second generation Korean Americans, who could have ``identity problems.''

``Money doesn't matter. If they have a strong sense of ethnic identity, they will extend helping hands to their homeland before they are asked,'' Shin said.

Established in 2000, KAYAC is a nonprofit association helping young people in the Korean American community understand their roots as descendents of Koreans. About two million ethnic Koreans live in the U.S. and a quarter of them are staying in the Northeast region.
The organization is offering homeland visit programs to young students in cooperation with Kyung Hee University. So far, 550 Korean Americans have visited Korea through the program.

``Actually, it is not our job. The Korean government should take this up and support more programs for young ethnic Koreans around the world. Still, many more young students are interested in learning about Korea,'' said former KAYAC President Ahn Yong-jin.

They said the government needs to learn from China, Japan and especially from Israel. ``The Jewish people work hard to embrace their kindred all around the world. There are about 850 Jews in the White House, for example, and they are the power and driving force of Israel,'' said Lee, who also served as president of the Korea-American Association of New York.

``We should do something for young Koreans overseas. If we don't, there will be no more chances and our children will have no roots,'' Lee added.

They also asked the Korean government to take care of Korean adoptees in the United States. ``Many adopted Koreans have bad feelings about their parents and mother country. Their motherland should embrace them,'' Ahn said.

They said a greater pool of ethnic Korean assets will be nurtured across the world in 15- 20 years. The government should invest in them so that it can attract them as driving power for Korea in the future. ``I hope President Lee suggests a vision and long-run plans for ethnic Koreans instead of just talking to us in `pragmatic' ways,'' Lee said.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr