KOREAN NET

The Korean War Veterans Association of Western Canada Hosts Funeral and Birthday Party

Advisor Lee Woo-seok is cutting his birthday cake.

The Korean War Veterans Association of Western Canada (President Kim Tae-young) held a birthday party for Advisor Lee Woo-seok for his 92nd birthday at 11:30 AM on April 10 at a restaurant in Coquitlam. There were 25 guests from the association who joined the birthday celebration. Choi Soon-mo, a member of the association, remarked. "Advisor Lee Woo-seok was a president with leadership for the Korean War Veterans Association that really pour his heart and passion for the association." Kim Tae-young, the sitting president of the association, added, "The life I shared with Advisor Lee Woo-seok in Canada was a great memory for both of them." Advisor Lee Woo-seok delivered his appreciation to the association for holding his birthday party and that he tries hard to ‘stay responsible and healthy for everything’ that he does.

Despite his 92 years old of age, Advisor Lee regularly attends key events in the Korean community in Canada and still drives and does his housekeeping without anyone’s help. He is also known to golf all 18 halls without riding a golf cart at least once a week. He mentioned that one of the most frequent questions he gets is what is the secret behind his health.

Group photo

Advisor Lee Woo-seok (age 92) What is the secret behind your health?

Q. What's the secret?
As simple as it sounds, sleep well and eat well; and try to stay active. Since I moved here to Canada, I tried to hold a regular schedule and volunteer works that I did gave me a good habit for me to keep. Also I tried to stay positive and optimistic.

Q. Daily schedule?
I wake up at 6 am and does my exercises in a form of stretching and some freehand exercises for about an hour before I prepare my breakfast. My breakfast is usually something simple, like eggs. After the breakfast, I take a walk for about an hour around the neighborhood. I eat my lunch around 1pm and take a 30 minute nap. All my meals are usually prepared by me, and I participate in events in the Korean community four times a week. Of course, every Monday I clock in to the Korean War Veterans Association Western Canada branch, and on Sunday, I am at the church. If i stayed home, I have my dinner at 6 pm and either watch some TV or do some document works on computer for the group activities that I am part of. Or I read the bible or other books if I am in the mood. I go to bed around 11 PM.

Q. Living alone for 20 years
Canada’s public transportation is not as good as the ones in Korea, so as long as I can drive, I will maintain my current way of life, but I am growing tired of living by myself for last 20 years. I am considering the nursing home for Korean-Canadians. I know some of the members from the association is already checked-in, so I won’t be lonely there.

On April 2, the funeral was held for the wife of Advisor Lee; the association members were present at the funeral to pay condolences.

A week after the birthday party at 11:30 AM on April 17, the members of the association came together at the same restaurant. Advisor Lee said, “I want to thank you all who came to my wife’s funeral to pay condolences and share the pain together. All members whom I can share my joys and my pains together in the life as an immigrant in Canada are my family.” President Kim Tae-young added, “The fact that members in their 80s and 90s can still come together just to chat is enough for me to feel happy for what lies ahead in my life.”