It's not only about Tae Kwon Do and Kim chi

It's not only about Tae Kwon Do and Kim chi

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is currently home to over 20,000 South
Koreans. Ask any locals in the street about Korean, they will
immediately point their fingers to Mister Kim, Mister Im, Mister
Lee or Mister Park, who work as bosses at factories in Jakarta's
suburbs of Tangerang and Bekasi.

"We don't have any Pak Im here but we have Mister Im, who's
our boss," replied a telephone operator at a factory recently.

Korean Ambassador Kim Jae-Sup put the figures of factories in
Indonesia run by his fellow citizens at 600, employing more than
200,000 local workers.

But like other foreigners, not all Koreans run factories here.
Others offer Korean products, from hi-tech to handmade, ship
Indonesian goods, teach Tae Kwon Do and the classic tea ceremony
and dance, promote Kim chi and other popular Korean dishes,
traditional music and the arts, and sell tourists packages to the
charming peninsula.

"I think the Korean community here is the largest foreign
community in Indonesia. And we always feel grateful for the
opportunity provided by the Indonesian government for their
activities here. And they also much appreciate the favorable
guidance of the Indonesian government's policy," ambassador Kim
told The Jakarta Post last week.

Kim Jae Min, secretary general of the Korean Association in
Indonesia, explained that Korean nationals and their families
here do not only do things for their own country.

"The activities in our association, for example, also help
promote Indonesian cultures, customs and historical places to
both visiting Koreans and those living here," he said in a
separate interview.

Sa Gong Kyung, a teacher at the Jakarta International Korean
School, admitted to having already fallen in love with
Indonesia's people, customs and traditions.

She described her dreams: "I hope that one day I could write a
book about Indonesian traditions and have my own small museum
where I could put my photography work on display for visiting
Koreans."

Sa has so far held two photo exhibitions on the lives and
activities of Indonesians and their surroundings. The expos were
specially designed for foreign nationals, particularly the Korean
community.

Tae Kwon Do instructor Yun You Joong gives the same story.
Besides teaching the Korean-of-origin martial art to children of
the Korean community, Yun is also a Tae Kwon Do instructor at the
Indonesian Police Academy and Indonesian Sports Council.

Kim Myung Ji and members from the Wolhwa Cha (Korea Tea
Ceremony) Association are planning to give free classes to
Indonesians in the near future.

Lee Eun Ae of the Korean Music Association is still planning
to hold its next joint concert of Korean and Indonesian artists.

According to Ambassador Kim, who has been assigned here since
last year, he has repeatedly stressed to Korean nationals here
that they must not fail to respect Indonesia's laws and
regulations.

"They must do their best to have close and friendly relations
with the Indonesians around them. And I also emphasize that this
sort of attitude will help their activities here to succeed. And
their good relations with locals will also contribute to the good
relations between the two countries," Kim said.

He described Korean-Indonesian bilateral ties as excellent.

"Actually, my President and President Megawati Soekarnoputri
were to meet in New York while attending the General Assembly
this month (September). But my President decided to cancel his
visit to the U.S. because of the recent terrorist attacks there,"
Kim added.

He is sure that President Kim Dae Jung will soon have a
meeting with Megawati.

After a significant drop due to the economic crisis that hit
the region, bilateral trade has returned to its normal level.
Last year, trade volume reached US$8.8 billion in favor of
Indonesia.

So far, total investment from South Korean in Indonesia has
reached $100 million.

Disputes at factories cannot be avoided, the ambassador said,
but Korean investors strongly believe that they can go on with
their business with the help of the Indonesian government because
their activities contribute to Indonesia's economic development.

Kim said Indonesia, especially Bali, has now become one of the
most favorite destinations for Korean tourists. "Last year, the
number of Korean tourists was 60,000."

Korea and Indonesia still have ample room to boost relations.
He named exchange schemes of businesspeople, government officials
and students as important examples.

"I think we must identify possible and desirable areas for the
expansion of relations. And both governments must find support
and help that can be extended to businesspeople or other
individuals in their efforts to enhance relations between the two
countries."

Korea, he said, vowed to continue developing and strengthening
the existing bilateral relations, which started in 1966.

Not only because of its significant role in the international
arena, but also because Indonesia is pursuing democracy and
economic competitiveness, Kim said.

"I feel always grateful for the deep understanding and good
impression which the Indonesian people show toward Korea and its
people. K. Basrie