Invest KOREA

American University held a ceremony to open a Korean garden on its campus here Monday to promote the university's ties with South Korea.

   South Korean Ambassador Han Duck-soo, who attended the ceremony to launch American University Korean Garden on 13,000 square meters near the School of International Service, expressed hope that the garden will help visitors "truly feel the landscape of Korea" and "serve as a reminder and an inspiration to the future generations of Koreans and Americans of the bonds" between the two countries.

   "The garden will be the first of its kind in the United States commemorating the longstanding relationship between American University and the Republic of Korea," Han said.

   The ceremony was held under three cherry trees donated by former South Korean President Syngman Rhee in 1943.

   The garden has more than 500 Korean plants donated by the South Korean government, the government of Jeju Province and the Korea Forest Research Institute.

   Jeju, South Korea's southern resort island, has also contributed a couple of traditional stone statues called "dolharubang."

   Neil Kerwin, president of American University, expressed his intention to build Korean Garden in 2009 when he visited Seoul to meet with American University alumni.

Source: Yonhap News (April 26, 2011)