Park invites French tutor to dinner

By Kang Seung-woo

OTTAWA, Canada ― President Park Geun-hye invited her former private French language tutor to a meeting with Koreans living in Ottawa, Canada.

It was Park’s first task on her schedule after she arrived in Canada on a state visit earlier in the day.

Andre Comtois, who was once her French tutor and is a Montreal native who was ordained to the priesthood in 1954, came to Korea in 1956 and did missionary work for 25 years.

In the early 1970s when President Park attended high school in Korea, the priest taught Park and her younger sister, Geun-ryeong, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Comtois was quoted as recalling that President Park was a hard-working student and was eager to learn back then.

During the meeting, Park and the former French teacher were unable to speak directly each other because they sat at separate tables.

"As the priest was not included to sit at the head table where Park sat, they could not talk to each other," presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said.

Korean Ambassador to Canada Cho Hee-yong, who sat next to the Canadian priest, however, quoted Comtois as saying that he appreciated President Park for inviting him to the meeting and that it was an honor to be there with the President.

Also joining the meeting was Yonah Martin, a Conservative Senator from British Columbia. A total of 210 Koreans were invited to the meeting.

During opening remarks, President Park lauded Korean-Canadians for bridging the gap between Korea and Canada, saying she was proud of them.

Park mentioned Frank Scofield, who fought for Korea’s independence during the Japanese colonial period and Canada’s decision to send troops to Korea during the Korean War as examples showing the strong ties between the two countries.

“Based on the strong friendship that the two countries have built, Korea and Canada are now embarking on a journey for the future hand in hand,” the president said.

President Park promised to do her utmost effort to help Korean residents

"When I meet up with Prime Minister Harper at the summit, I will ask him to support the Korean-Canadian community living here," she said.

"I will try my best to help all of you take advantage of the ever-growing friendship that both countries are currently enjoying as an opportunity to improve yourselves."

Since the beginning of the year, Park has promoted the unification of the Korean Peninsula, seeking support and understanding from the international community including Canada.

Park asked Koreans living in Canada to become evangelists for a unified Korea.

"I hope that each and every one of you here will make an effort to help Canadians better understand the vision of Korean unification," Park said.