재외동포청 코리안넷

Korean style Zionism/ Good Will Ambassador
마영삼 주이스라엘대사, 6.22(월), Maariv

Korean style Zionism (Cover page)

When the Korean Ambassador completed his previous mission in Israel he was surprised to realize that the rest of the family wanted to stay longer without giving up their previous life * "the Korean people learned to appreciate Israel" he explains.
When Ambassador Ma Young Sam completed his previous post at the Korean Embassy in Israel he was informed by his wife and children that they fell in love with Israel and they are willing to stay longer * he didn’t see his family for 3 years until he came back to Israel as Ambassador * in an interview to "hamagazin" he is telling us how did the ''''Korean style Zionism'''' influenced a family which has no Jewish roots and how Israel is appreciated in Korea.

Good Will Ambassador (Article)

On March 2006, Mr. Ma has completed 3 years of service as a Minister Counsellor at the Korean Embassy in Israel. During his last year he even served as the Head of Representative Office in the Palestinian Authority. Ma was called back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul and promoted to be the Director General of the Africa and Middle East department. At this point, he realized that his family made him a real surprise; Mr. Ma''''s wife, Mrs. Eun-Kyung, informed him that the two children fell in love with Israel and wanted to stay in Israel. If they would do so, she would need to stay with them as well. The elder son, Ho-Jeong and his young sister, joy, studied in the AIS School at Kfar Shmaryahu and apparently, the friends, the weather and their social life convinced the family it would be better for them to graduate their studies in the Holy-Land.
Joy is 16 years old and these days, she is busy with her final exams. "This is why I am not visiting Hasharon Square in Herzliya that often now. That’s where I usually meet with my friends" she says in such a typical Israeli manner. "It''''s true I can order my pizza in Hebrew but with my friends I speak mainly in English. As for my favorite Israeli singers, I know David Brozza but I rather listen to Trance music. I''''m a big fan of Infected Mushroom"
The small giant
The decision was not that tough to Mrs. Ma. She is the daughter of a Christian priest who used to visit Israel often. Now, after Mr. Ma was appointed as ambassador she is filled with joy. "We did not imagine that my husband will become an Ambassador within 3 years. His appointment in September was like a family reunion for us. We were actually disconnected for two and a half years", she says. But her husband provide a more diplomatic answer: "I was able to visit my family only once during these two and a half years, but the department I was in charge of included 68 countries in Africa and the Middle East and my supervisors believed it will not be appropriate to visit a certain country often".
The special words in which the Ambassador describes their special connection with Israel, makes you think he is a new immigrant ("Ole Hadash ,D.K.) or an old citizen who came back to his origin country. "The connection between Israel and Korea is so tight that they are like sisters", he said, "both established in 1948, both attacked in our most early stage of existence and both were able to rehabilitate in an impressive way. Your Hebrew and our Hangol are ancient languages with a modern touch. Every Korean child knows that there is a small country in the Middle East which he can admire and study from".
The year of 1967 has a special significance in Ma''''s memory. "I was in elementary school then", he recalls, "and the teacher asked us what do we want to do when we will be grown up. Most of the kids said they wish to go to study in universities in the USA and then come back to Korea to work. The teacher told us about the Israeli students who one bright day left their studies and went back to their homeland. ''''Before they graduated their studies?'''' the kids wondered. ''''Yes, they went back to fight for their country. Their small country defeated 3 neighbor countries during 6 days of war. Would you do the same?'''' and that’s how they contributed to our admiration of Israel and to the image of "The Small Giant"
Together with his strong impression of the Israeli achievements back in 1967, Mr. Ma is also optimistic regarding a peace agreement. "Since I served in Tel-Aviv as well as in Ramallah, I believe that the first bridge will be the one between Obama and Nethanayu. The minute they will be able to close their gaps the road for peace will be much easier. As for comparing the Iranian threat to the North Korean threat I would just say that, I wouldn''''t like to be in your shoes and I believe you wouldn’t like to be in our shoes. In both cases we shouldn’t turn it into an American problem. The world can help but those who face the problem need to initiate plans for solutions. ''''If there is a will there is a way''''. That’s my motto. I''''m 43 (Ma is actually 53, but as a joke he said 43), and I believe that I will see both Koreas unite during my lifetime".
Currently, Ambassador is busy preparing a special event for the memory of the Korean War. The event will take place at his residence. "I discovered that Israel has contributed to Korea much more than most people aware of", he said and revealing an interesting episode. "Your Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to support the US in the UN and this was the first official cut off from the Eastern bloc. Israel took a risk for us. Trygve Lie, UN General Secretary hosted a dinner to the Chinese delegation together with representatives of states who have recognized China (at these days, Israel was one of the few states having recognized China). Moshe Sharett, the Israeli Foreign Minister who came to attend the General Assembly was also invited. Before he attended the dinner, he asked Gideon Rafael to explain any idea how to end the Korean conflict so he will have a discussion topic. Later, one Chinese delegate heard that "a little Diplomat with a small moustache" explained a 7 principles plan to achieve cease-fire".
"The following day, Trygve Lie, who heard from the Chinese delegation about the positive reaction to the plan, asked for the dinner guests list in order to figure out who is the little Diplomat with the small moustache. He found out that this is Moshe Sharett. Sharett was called urgently to the office of Trygve lie. Sharett wondered why he is being called to the Secretary General. So he immediately called Jerusalem to check if anything important happened in Israel during the night. Lie complimented Sharett on the plan and asked him to draft a resolution. The resolution gained the support of many countries but some countries did not want to support it if it will be presented by Israel. So it was presented under a different country". Ma states that "This offer was the original basis for the ensuing negotiation for cease-fire".
As a praise and commemoration gesture for this contribution he invited the wife of Abba Eban and the sons of Moshe Sharett and Gidon Rafael. However, the main part of the event will be the medal awards to five Jewish soldiers who fought in the Korean War as part of the US Forces.
Mr. Ma has even more dreams of cooperation together with promotion of renewable energy projects. Meanwhile, before those dreams will come true, the Korean Ambassador was successful in turning a sportive dream come true. "Korea is a superpower in Table-Tennis", said Itzik Cohen, vice chairman of the Israeli Table-Tennis Association. "The Ambassador has arrived one day to the ''''Bnei-Britt'''' club in Herzliya and asked to join the club activities. Compare to his age he is a real champion. Lately, he organized the participation of two women players in a prestige training camp in Korea".
"And that’s not all", said Ma. "I am doing all my best to bring a Korean trainer to your national team so that hopefully, your national anthem will be played". What if Israel will beat Korea? I asked him and he answered in a diplomatic way: "For the 2002 World-Cup soccer games we had Guus Hiddink as the Korean National Team coach. He would be happy if he sees the Korean team win his own national team, Holland. For his fortunate, Holland did not qualify to the World-Cup while Korea achieved the fourth place mostly thanks to him".
His great motivation in this specific field can be linked to the relationship between the US and China which their first seeds were coming from the Table-Tennis table. In 1972, President Nixon initiated what was later called as the "Ping-Pong Diplomacy". One of the questions which remain open is whether Ambassador Ma will be able to organize a Table Tennis tournament between Israel and Palestine. "This is not a bad idea at all", he laughs and immediately become serious, "and I promise you that if it will succeed, it will be written in the history books as your idea".

Ambassador will grant medals

The Israelis who fought for Korea

On this coming Thursday, Mr. Benyamin Sparver, who immigrated to Israel from the US in 1970, will be one of five Jewish combatants who will receive a special medal from the Korean Ambassador. He will be a part of this exciting event due to the fact he took part in the effort to save South Korea after the North Korean invasion in June 1950. "I was 19 and called to join the army just like all my fellow Americans", Sparver said. "I was located in a communication unit. In fact I arrived to Korea towards the end of the war. I was located there for one year and a half and I don’t even know Korea because all I knew was one hill from which we conducted the whole communication process".
One day some soldiers were wounded in the front and it was impossible to send rescue and Helicopters and that’s where Sparver got into the picture. "Since I knew the area very well I was leading the special rescue force throughout the land. I was rewarded with the "Bronze Star" which is the third highest award in the US army. Because I was injured, I also received the "Purple Heart" award. But the truth is I don’t really know why I got these medals because all I wanted was to come back home safely", he said modesty.
After Sparver made "Aliya" to Israel he worked as a food supplier to hospitals and schools. In his Military reserve service in the IDF he was doing mainly guarding. "For many years I was called to the reserve service", he tells, "until one day the young soldiers told me ''''dear grandpa, you have fought enough, now you can go home and rest''''. And now, this grandpa is receiving a medal".

첨부. 상기 기사(히브리어판). 끝.