MND hosts cultural tour for U.S. service members

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mackenzie Mendez
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense hosted a three-day Korean culture tour for more than 50 U.S. military personnel, July 9 – July 11.

The Korean MND has been organizing tours since 1972, giving numerous opportunities for U.S. military personnel stationed all over the Korean peninsula to learn more about the vast history and unique culture of their host nation.

“These tours provide U.S. service members with an opportunity to immerse themselves in Korean culture and share their experiences with their friends and family,” said Lee Kyun, Ministry of National Defense spiritual force and cultural affairs director. “It’s important to educate our U.S. partners on Korean tradition and culture while also maintaining a great partnership between them and the Republic of Korea.”

The tour included a visit to Jeonju traditional village, giving military members the opportunity to explore the village while wearing Hanbok, the traditional Korean clothing worn during the Joseon dynasty. Following the visit, the group attended a cooking class, making chili paste and tokbokki, a Korean street food dish made of rice cakes, fish cakes, vegetables, chili paste and broth. The group also visited Juknokwon bamboo garden, followed by a taekwondo performance and lesson.

Each portion of the tour was hosted by a ‘master’ who has been designated by the Korean government as an expert in their field. Service members were able to interact with a bamboo fan master, traditional Korean liquor master and taekwondo master.

“Traveling and exploring on your own can be intimidating. Tours like these help break down cultural and lingual barriers and introduce U.S. service members to Korean culture,” said Staff Sgt. Loren Boring, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management specialist. “These trips benefit the U.S. and ROK alliance by giving us the opportunity to interact with different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and focus on building relationship with our ROK counterparts.”

In addition to popular tourism sites around the peninsula, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen who attended the tour were able to interact with one another and learn more about their Korean travel companions over Korean barbeque, wine cave footbaths and Korean snack making.