Lippert is jolly good fella
Mark Lippert, second from right, U.S. ambassador to Korea, and Kim Jong-wook, third from right, chairman of the KATUSA Veterans Association (KVA), pose with other guests during the KVA’s New Year reception at the Dragon Hill Lodge in Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of KVA
US envoy drops by KATUSA event before running back to baby son
By Kang Seung-woo
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert has attracted attention for his unique public diplomacy.
Although he has only been here for three months, the former chief of staff to the U.S. defense secretary has burst onto the public scene because of his “tactics,“ and has prompted positive responses on- and offline.
The latest instance of his “friendly diplomacy” was his attendance at the New Year reception for the KATUSA Veterans Association, Thursday.
“Primarily, I was not given liberty. Tonight was that my wife wanted me to pick up something at the PX for the baby. So, I’m on borrowed time,” Lippert said during the event, referring to his son, who was born here, Tuesday.
The event was the only public event he kept this week, the 41-year-old added.
His wit also brought about laughs when he had to give an impromptu speech because of an unexpected technical problem with his tablet computer.
“For the first time, I was going to give my speech from my Microsoft tablet, but it froze immediately, literally seconds before. So seriously, it is going to be an interesting speech,” Lippert said.
The Cincinnati native was also thrust into the limelight earlier in the day, after making public on his Twitter account that he has given his first baby a Korean middle name, James Williams Sejun Lippert, saying that the Korean middle name was based on the concept of “saju,” or the four pillars of destiny ― the year, month, day and hour of birth that are believed to decide a person’s destiny or fate. The name means wishing “to become an exceptional person as a result of leading an honest and clean life,” according to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
On arriving in Korea in October, he has stepped up efforts to immerse himself in Korean society.
He opened an online blog, titled, “The Lipperts in Korea,” on Nov. 14, while taking to Twitter to communicate with Koreans, using Korean as well as English.
In addition, his dog, a basset hound named Grigsby, also has been in the news.
The ambassador has also introduced other activities in which he has taken part, such as Seoul’s kimchi and lantern festivals.
The ambassador made his first regional trip last week to Andong, a traditional village in North Gyeongsang Province, to learn about Korean culture.
Meanwhile, the ambassador praised the role of the KATUSA program, which has contributed to strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
“The special role is very important,” he said.
“And so we believe that it is something not just good for the military side, but it also benefits down the line as many alumni of the KATUSA program have become great leaders in industry, education, culture and art, and carry with them that unique experience of their special time.”
He also said that more broadly, the military program contributes to why this alliance is so strong right now.
“The (South Korea-U.S.) relationship is strong at its core because of the people-to-people relationships that are born both here on the peninsula and in the United States, and the back and forth between both sides of the Pacific. These people-to-people relationships really are ties that ultimately define our two nations together,” Lippert said.
In honor of the unbreakable bond that develops between 8th U.S. Army soldiers and their KATUSA soldiers, Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, the 8th Army’s commanding general, has created an annual award for former KATUSA soldiers who have gone on to distinguish themselves in their careers and contributions to Korean society and the alliance.
“I would also like to announce the establishment of the Sgt. Kim Sang-won Distinguished Former KATUSA Award,” said Champoux.
Sgt. Kim served as a KATUSA with the 17th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War and participated in more than 300 combat patrols, including the drive to the Amrok River in late 1950. For his fighting spirit and unflappable courage, Kim was later awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during one of his numerous patrols.
The inaugural award winner was Yoon Yoon-soo, chairman and CEO of Fila International.
“In addition to being a very successful businessman, Chairman Yoon has dedicated much of his life to improving relations between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea and has made it a priority to support both the 8th Army and the alliance,” Champoux said.