BY LARRY
HIGGS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
RED BANK — Shopping is a universal
language, no matter what continent a
person comes from.
"Half price," said Hang Yong Cho,
who was one of four visiting city
officials from Bucheon, South Korea, after
he saw a 50 percent off sale sign in the
window of
LJ's on Broad Street.
The South Korean delegation concluded two
days in Red Bank with a fast tour of
the downtown district with Mayor Pasquale
"Pat" Menna and Lynda Rose,
Eastern
Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce
president. Today, they are scheduled to be
hosted by the Forked River Rotary.
Stops at three downtown stores preceded
lunch and Friday night's Yankees game in
the Bronx.
It wasn't all shopping and fun. The
delegation toured Red Bank and Little
Silver
borough halls and Monmouth County offices
in Freehold Thursday to see how government
works, Jersey style.
The Korean delegation was made up of Hung
Gi Lee, team leader, and city
officials Hang Yong Cho, Joo Yeon Yoon,
Bok Dong Yu and Eun Hee Kong. Bucheon is a
city of one million people, located
between Incheon and Seoul, South Korea's
capital.
Of interest to the five were volunteer
fire departments. Assistant Red Bank
Borough Clerk Bonnie Thomas explained how
the volunteer fire department works in the
borough. The borough's road program and
courtroom video-conferencing system
also prompted questions and comments.
Rotary clubs serve as a unifying point
between the two nations. The South Korean
delegation are all members of Rotary
district 3690, and through the group
exchange
program, were visiting district 7500,
which includes southern and central New
Jersey, said Michael Gormley, Red Bank
Rotary president.
Under that program, professionals from
each country visit the other's country
for a month, he said. One of the reasons
they came to Red Bank, after touring New
York, was to see how a smaller
municipality is run, he said.
"One of their main interests was to
see the municipal operation," Gormley
said.
The group also toured Riverview Hospital,
Monmouth University and the Collier
High School in Marlboro, Sandy Hook and
the Twin Lights, in addition to the United
Nations, Central Park and the Museum of
Natural History in New York.
Before going downtown, Menna addressed the
delegation, telling them that many
Koreans have made their home in the United
States.
"Take home our good wishes and
prayers for a peaceful reunification of
your
country," Menna said, noting that the
split of North and South Korea has divided
families. "Americans have a fond
respect for the government of the Republic
of
Korea."
Their trip downtown included a stop at
retail stores 10,000 Villages and
Restoration Hardware, where Joo Yeon Yoon
and Eun Hee Kong tried out some of the
couches.
"Oh, this is very good," Yeon
said.
A stop at Funk and Standard yielded some
souvenirs. Hung Gi Lee bought an
"Ugly
Doll," while Yoon and Kong tried on
sunglasses and scarves, which made them
look
like Jackie Onassis.
"Who are you?" Yoon joked, as
Kong tried on the accessories.
