The Korea America Friendship Society held an annual year-end party Thursday to reflect on the 65 years of military alliance that has safeguarded the prospering commercial and cultural links between the two countries.

“The security and stability ensured by our alliance is the foundation for the strong partnership between the U.S. and Korea,” said the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Knapper in a speech at the reception at Millennium Seoul Hilton.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command Gen. Kim Hyun-jip, the U.S. Forces Korea 8th Army Commander Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, KAFS president Han Chul-soo and servicepersons of the Combined Forces Command.

“Our servicemen and women, along with many Korean-American servicepersons, continue a long tradition of proudly serving our militaries and bringing the two countries closer together,” the envoy extraordinary added.

Highlighting that more than 10,000 Koreans had immigrated to Hawaii and California between 1900 and 1910 in search of a better life, Knapper said that three children of Korean independence fighter Dosan An Chang-ho (1878-1938) served in the U.S. military, contributing to the Allied victory and Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial occupation.

Dosan’s eldest daughter Susan An was a lieutenant and gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy, one of the few female officers at the time. She died this summer at age 100.

“What is also significant is what this early Korean-American generation achieved after their military careers,” Knapper emphasized. “They went on to become doctors, actors, government officials and businesspeople in America, which has benefitted greatly from their achievements.”

Han said the two countries’ defense structure, one of the most powerful in the world, had become more durable by fighting communism shoulder to shoulder. As a reliable fortification for Korea’s development, the president argued, the military cooperation had consolidated bilateral trust and friendship beyond material interests.

“Korean people and the KAFS members will never forget the noble sacrifice of U.S. soldiers who fought to protect our freedom and democracy,” Han stressed. 

Gen. Kim, who was appointed to his post in September, said the coalition had evolved into “a great contributor to world peace” and “a comprehensive global partnership beyond security and economy,” borrowing the words of U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye from their October summit in Washington.

“2016 is the year of the red monkey,” Kim added, indicating that the color red signified passion and monkey symbolized cleverness in Korean tradition. “With passion and cleverness, all service members will continue their robust readiness posture and protect the value and prosperity of our alliance.”

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)