AUGUSTUS CHO

"Investing in Chapel Hill..."

As it is said, "Truth is stranger than fiction".... and in this case the "Declaration of Friendship" between Guro District of Seoul, Republic of Korea and Chapel Hill, N.C proves the point   of the statement.

While making a courtesy call on Mayor Kevin Foy, I learned of the Declaration of Friendship between the two cities and the exchange of letters, gifts etc. while in his office.

Mayor Foy explained that since Chapel Hill isn't a participating member of the Sister Cities Program, the next best scenario between the visiting mayor and our mayor was a Declaration of Friendship.  Very nice, and well done.  As I read the Korean version of the letter, and Mayor Foy and I shared some of the Korean language, and significance of the gifts I began to explain another significant fact.

I had lived there before coming to the United States of America, back in 1966 to 1967.  I remembered Guro District from a perspective of an 8 year old: it was one of the rural districts outside of the main part of the city of Seoul.  It was a typical poor community (much like the rest of the city) with one distinction: an American Army Base.  American GI's passed out chocolate candy to us as they traveled along the roads, back and forth to the base.  A year later, I left for the United States to join my mother.  Now, Guro District is on the cutting edge of hi-tech, a Seoul's Silicon Valley.

Fast forward to July 1, 2009.  

I have since lived in...Washington D.C; Bristow, Arlington & Fairfax, VA; Durham, Raleigh & Chapel Hill, NC; Los Angeles, CA; New York City, NY; New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA; Wilmington, DE; Seoul, South Korea; back to Chapel Hill, NC...and then to see a letter declaring Guro District and Chapel Hill being "Friendly Cities" in the mayor's office...

What are the chances?

Guro District of Seoul, Republic of Korea







Indeed, truth is stranger than fiction...