LUNCH IN THE COUNTRYSIDE: Juhan Lee and Jiyeon Kim take
Bob to a very nice restaurant at the edge of the town where they lived at the time: Siheung, about
an hour from Seoul.
Korean wives, like some Americans, keep their last name when they get married. Jiyeon,
who worked with Bob on the Korean-Lockheed aircraft
development program, was born on the Russell’s wedding day.
She has been called our “daughter” ever since.
The Russells were happy that Juhan and Jiyeon and their two
kids immigrated to Texas in January 2010.
“Daddy” Bob and “Daughter” Jiyeon after
lunch at a great restaurant.
Bob’s hosts at the table—lots of great food to eat.
Jiyeon talks to Judy (at home in Texas) after having lunch with Bob in Siheung. Later, in their
apartment, Jiyeon’s kids, Doyeon (Diana) and Junsung (Eric) enjoy
being with one another.
AN EVENING DINNER: Jiyeon Kim visits Bob at his hotel in
Seoul.
“Daddy Bob” and “Daughter Jiyeon” had dinner near the hotel and spent some time recalling other good times.
In 1994, Jiyeon was able to go with Bob and a friend to
Colorado and she got to meet Bob’s sister and family and see
his hometown of Holyoke.
Bob and Judy are also good friends with her mother, who
lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
LEFT: Dooseong, Heekyoung, and Minchan Kang by a lake in Seoul. RIGHT:
Dooseong has fun with son Minchan.
Minchan had a great day at the park near the lake, climbing pillars and riding a lion.
Dooseong treats Bob to a nice Korean lunch near his
wife’s pharmacy.
Heekyoung Kang helps a customer at her pharmacy, not far from the Kang apartment. A close-up of Heekyoung in the inset below.
Gwangsu Park, with whom Bob worked on the aircraft
development program, treats Bob to a nice
Korean dinner in Seoul.
BIRTHDAY BOY:
Dooseong’s and Heekyoung’s son,
Minchan, was celebrating his 8th
birthday when Bob visited Korea.
His grandfather and grandmother took the Kang family and Bob
to a great Korean restaurant. Bob gave Minchan a Spiderman puzzle – the young lad
had a great time putting it together
that evening.
After a great evening at a restaurant, the Kang family pose for Bob.
Dooseong’s mother and father are on his left. Judy and I had met them about 11 years earlier on a trip to
Korea.
One evening, Dooseong (far right) and two friends took me drinking in downtown Seoul. Hank Han, the guy on the left in the blue shirt, also worked with me on the
Korean aircraft development project. Dr. Ko, friend of Dooseong’s, is in the middle.
BEST KOREAN
MEAL EVER:
Jiyeon, Juhan, Eric, and Diana took Bob out to eat
at the nicest
place in Seoul: pro
golfer Grace Park’s
father’s restaurant.
Two very cute kids: Junsung (Eric) Lee and Doyeon (Diana) Lee. Now living in Fort Worth, Texas, after Bob helped the family immigrate, they call Bob
“Grandpa” and he loves it. Both are very bright and fun to be around!
Bob enjoyed a few beers with two good friends. Kelly Suk, the cute girl in the middle, was a close friend of “daughter” Sarah’s when they both lived in California. She
married her fiancé Jun, on the right, and they now live in Seoul and have one child.
GREAT FRIENDS:
My “daughter’s” parents, Jongho and
Hyunju Rho, picked up Bob one night and took him to see the sights in
downtown Seoul.
Bob worked side-by-side with Jongho in Fort
Worth – on a Korean-Lockheed aircraft
development program.
Jongho is a retired Lt. Col. in the Republic of
Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and now works for LG.
Jongho and
Hyunju Rho watch the meat cook on the table at a nice
restaurant in Seoul.
The Rhos miss their daughter,
Yuna (Sarah),
who lives and works in the LA
Basin.
The last night in Seoul found Bob and Jiyeon and Dooseong enjoying some wings and beer at a Hooters. It capped off a wonderful visit to Korea.
Dooseong’s friends
sometimes call him
“Owl” for his big
round eyes.
Here, he enjoys a Hooters’
spicy chicken wing for dinner as
Jiyeon snaps a shot of him and
Bob.
WINE BAR:
After dinner at Hooter’s, Dooseong treated Jiyeon
and Bob to a very unique bar not far from
the chain restaurant.
The wine bar features some very fancy
“nibble” snacks and wine…but, even more unique, they want you to take off your shoes and socks and enjoy
warm bubbling water below your table—a perfect way to relax
after a busy day at work or walking all over the
city of Seoul!
