New Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at U.S. Embassy:
“I Was Very Surprised at How Globalized the ROK Has Become” 

September 17, 2007

He is an American with blue eyes who can sing Cho Yong-pil’s song titled “Please come back to the Busan harbor” both in Korean and Japanese.

Patrick J. Linehan who served as the Press Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in the ROK (1996-1999) and in Japan (1999-2003) has close ties with the ROK and Japan.  This past June, he came back to the ROK as the Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, eight years after he completed his first assignment here.  He visited the ROK’s southern city of Busan on Sept. 13-14.

Mr. Linehan was so happy to return to the ROK that he created his Korean name.  He paid a visit of salutation to the headquarters of the Busan Ilbo on Sept. 14 and on the business card he handed over was written his self-created Korean name Ri-Ne-Han in Chinese characters next to his English name Linehan.

The U.S. diplomat said that he was surprised at the rapid change and development that the ROK and Busan made during the eight years of his absence here, including the creation of the Korea Train Express (KTX), the high-speed trains which deliver passengers between Seoul and Busan faster than the Saemaul trains, and high-rise buildings at Hae-undae in Busan.   

In addition, Mr. Linehan noticed that the number of young Korean students who speak to foreigners in English has greatly increased compared to the past and their English speaking skill has also improved a lot.  He noted, “If the U.S. opens a consular office in Busan mid-October, visits by American officers at the U.S. Embassy, including the Ambassador, the Deputy Chief of Mission and economic officers, to the southern port city will increase greatly.”  He added that the opening of the consular office will also facilitate exchanges between the U.S. and Busan, including more visits by high-profile American figures.   

• Original text on Busan Ilbo (Korean)