A wonderful year-end event

The year-end party for the Korea America Friendship Society (KAFS) was held at Westin Josun Seoul on Dec. 2. I was invited to the dinner meeting as a member of the Korea-America Association. Watching the whole sequence of well-organized events proceed, I am glad to share some happy feelings from KAFS’ 34th annual yuletide function.

It was a thoughtful evening, considering the participating dignitaries from both sides, notably from the American participants. Korean participants included Sohn Kyung-shik, the chairman of KAFS; Hwang Jin-ha, KAFS president; Kim Kei-joo, the chair of event preparation; and Kang Yu-jin, vice minister of patriots and veterans affairs. American participants included Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK); James R. Heller, deputy chief of mission for the U.S. Embassy; and Lt. Gen. Joseph E. Hilbert, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army.

The resolute orations delivered by participating speakers were powerful and meaningful, redefining the 72-year-old Korea-U.S. military alliance as it becomes stronger and more future-oriented. This is important in a time of hostility amidst a standoff with North Korea, understanding that we must expand cultural, social, economic and technological cooperation and coordination between the two nations, including in shipbuilding, automobiles, artificial intelligence chips and semiconductors.

The recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit was applauded several times as a model example of a multinational success story. I learned from Heller’s comments that the coming year would mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. I understand that 2026 also marks the 250th anniversary of the inauguration of the U.S. Army, on a day that also happens to be President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

It was peaceful to listen to the solemn blessing by Col. Kim Hyeon-joong, chaplain of USFK, for the future of the Korea-U.S. friendship.

The annual music program was quite colorful and beautiful. The Children’s Choir of the Far East Broadcasting Company was established in 1991, the same year as KAFS. They enthusiastically performed songs ranging from “God Bless America” to “Amazing Grace.” Soprano Lee Seung’s renditions of “Song of my Hometown” and “You Raise Me Up,” accompanied on the harmonica by Oh Hyun-gu, former first corps commander, were popular with the audience. The Seoul Chamber Piano Quintet’s performance of “Silent Night” made for a passionate finale.

To sum up the KAFS’s 2025 event, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the important tasks and duties of civic organizations to create an amicable relationship between Korea and the United States. We should bond together not only to strengthen our 143-year-old diplomatic partnership, but also reinforce the 72-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty and safeguard the Korean Peninsula from potential regional threats. Korea and the United States, let’s go forward together.

The writer (wkexim@naver.com) is a freelance columnist living in Seoul.