EXCHANGE PROGRAM BRINGS KOREAN STUDENTS TO AREA
Monday, January 14th, 2008 -- 2:05 PM
Forty South Korean children and five adult chaperones are in central Wisconsin in a cultural exchange program spearheaded by a Neillsville pastor.Rev. Dong Su Lee of the United Methodist Church says the children range in age from 3rd grade to 10th grade.
Lee was born in South Korea just after the war. He came to the United States as an exchange student. At that time, Americans were the "haves" and the Koreans were the "have nots".
"The gap is becoming less and less," he says. "Children from Korea (visiting) this winter are from typical middle class families and they can send their children with their own expenses."
Even the cultures are becoming similar. The younger Korean generations eat largely a Western diet.
Lee started the exchange program in 1996 when he was a pastor in Augusta. He restarted the program last year in Neillsville.
"This gives Korean children the opportunity to expose themselves to American culture," he notes. "Also, from our community-side, without traveling to Korea or Eastern countries, they can get access to different Asian cultures."
The students are attending classes at a number of area schools, including those in Neillsville, Granton, Loyal and Marshfield.
They'll host a talent show Sunday night at the Neillsville High School Auditorium. It will begin at 6:30 p.m.
You can hear more with Rev. Dong Su Lee Thursday morning on our In Depth program at 9 a.m. on Memories 1370 AM.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.