#136 Answering your Questions

[스티븐스 대사]

This week I am posting my final blog entries before departing Korea.  I promised some weeks ago I would answer questions netizens had before my departure.  I and Embassy staff always read and appreciate your comments, and have tried to answer your questions faithfully over the past three years.  Here I respond to the recent questions posed by readers of this blog.

‘Peter Kim’ asked me what I will be doing after my tenure ends in Korea. 
I will return to Washington DC, where I have a home and many friends.  I am going to the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, and I am looking forward to reflecting on and sharing some of what I have learned here over the past three years. 

Though I will not be continuing this blog, I’ll make sure to find a way to stay in touch!

‘양재승’ thinks that if you know more about a certain matter and write more about it, you tend to get hurt more easily, and asked me what my perspective on this is. 

Yes, I agree there is always a certain risk in putting oneself and one’s ideas “out there.”  You have to be ready to accept that not everyone will agree with you.  Still, you have to treat others with the same respect that you hope they will show you and your positions.  I know I still have much to learn about Korea, but I think dialogue and debates with people who have a different perspective is one of the best ways to learn.

‘차윤선 (@chachaism0519)’ asked me via my Twitter account (@ambstephens) what donor countries receive when they contribute money and aid to developing countries.  I understood her interesting question to mean that some believe that providing aid to foreign countries is just “giving away money” and doesn’t benefit the giving country. 
Thank you, Ms. Cha, for your excellent question.  I believe former USAID Administrator Peter McPherson summed up my thoughts on your question nicely when he said the following about American aid in the developing world: “Foreign aid is not a handout.  Development of the Third World is an investment that benefits both America and the people of developing countries.”  The Republic of Korea is a good example of how a successful foreign aid program can benefit both donor and the recipient countries. 

Once economically poor, Korea today has one of the largest economies in the world.  Certainly the Korean people have benefited from the improvement in living standards.  But everyone – including the United States – benefits from a strong and prosperous Korea.  Korea’s hosting of the G20 in 2010, hosting the Nuclear Security Summit in 2012, patrolling sea lanes near the Horn of Africa, working to bring stability to Afghanistan and South Sudan – all of these actions provide significant benefits to the world.  Today, we are on the verge of implementing the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which will have a major and positive impact on both our countries.  None of these things would be possible without Korea’s development into a strong and prosperous nation, a process in which international aid played a role. 

To quote McPherson once again:  “America does best when we have a prosperous, growing world.”  I believe this applies to Korea, as well.    

‘firstie’ sent us an interesting question.  This person heard that I play tennis and was wondering which NTRP level I am at.  He also wonders if his tennis club (in Gwanak-gu) and our Embassy staff could compete in a match someday. 
I am at the NTRP 3.5 or 4 level in tennis, I think.  I’ve played lots of tennis in Korea and some aspects of my game have improved, so I’m eager to get tested and join a league when I get back to the U.S.  I am going to miss all my Korean tennis partners, though!  We don’t have too many active tennis players at our Embassy (more bikers, actually!) but I’ll suggest that they get in touch with you. 

Thank you all for sending me your questions!  I really enjoyed reading and answering not just these, but the many others you have sent over the years.  I appreciate your interest in communicating with me, and I wish you all good health and success in whatever you do. 

    

[Peter_Kim]

Ambassador Stephens, thank you for answering my question and letting us know where you will be headed! I thoroughly enjoyed your posts throughout your tenure. Through your blogs, you taught me what true diplomacy is all about and how to love the country you are posted at. I had the chance to meet former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Korea at the Korean Consul General's residence in LA. I was able to mention about you and many were former colleagues of yours! Anyways, thank you for giving us an inside look at what Embassy Seoul does and best wishes in your future endeavors in DC.

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