Louis W. Goodman, dean of American University's School of International Service / Korea Times Photo by Kim Sue-young

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

A Korea town offering its unique cuisine and culture can be easily found in major cities of many countries. But not for long, people can smell Korean scent in a campus of American University (AU) as well.

Louis W. Goodman, dean of AU's School of International Service (SIS) in Washington, D.C., said the school plans to create a ``Korean Garden'' to symbolize the strong ties between the two allies.

The school, founded 50 years ago, started with only 400 students. Now it has 3,000 students and therefore, a new building is necessary, he said.

``We plan to surround the environmentally friendly building with a two-acre Korean Garden. We have such strong ties with Korea. So, we want to symbolize it through the garden,'' Goodman said in an interview with The Korea Times Saturday.

A couple of Korean cherry trees are already growing on the campus, so a start has already been made.

South Korea's first President Syngman Rhee (1875-1965), a friend of AU President Paul Douglas, planted the trees next to the existing school building in 1943 in support for Korean independence, the dean said.

``Those trees will anchor the garden and it will be a very important place for Koreans and other people to come to appreciate Korean culture.''

He explained this garden's location on campus would reinforce the high value that is put on education in Korea and offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the university's long connection with distinguished Korean citizens.

He added this can even be an important source of national pride for Koreans, quoting Rhee as having said that the tree originally came from the northern part of Korea, despite lots of discussions on this, when he planted it on the campus.

Goodman also said Korean landscape is perfect for the campus because the nation has the most environmentally friendly landscape culture, probably in the world.

``It requires less water, fertilizer and care than Japanese, Chinese or European gardens. Because of the friendship, geography and environmentally friendly nature of Korean gardens, it's a perfect kind of garden to surround the school,'' said Goodman, donning a black jacket and well-ironed white shirt with no tie.

The same latitude of the U.S. and South Korean capitals also allows plants growing in Seoul to flourish in Washington D.C., he added.

The dean, who has visited Korea more than 22 times, came to Seoul this time to participate in an AU alumni event held last Friday and help raise funds for the new building designed by green architect William McDonough.

Regarding President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the United States in mid-April, he suggested that Lee start out by talking with his counterpart George W. Bush about the long history of friendship between the two allies. Lee took office Feb. 25.

``The two leaders will strengthen the positive elements of their history and how that history has evolved,'' he said.

He continued, ``Each nation needs each other in the 21st century. They should talk about strengthening economic ties, security arrangement, people-to-people relations and cultural exchange, and working together to help other countries. People all around the world look at the U.S. and Korea as model.''

Goodman, a specialist on economic development and democracy-building in Latin America for more than 40 years, has witnessed great changes happen in Korea since his first visit 17 years ago.

``The Korean political system is very impressively democratic. It has a kind of diversity and ability to change what hopes are for,'' he said.

Goodman has been the dean at the school since 1986. He served as president of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs in 1992.

He directed the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Latin America.

Goodman has written numerous books, including ``International Affairs Education on the Eve of the 21st Century."

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr