#119 235th Independence Day and 35th Anniversary of Habib House Celebration

[스티븐스 대사]

The reception line at the entry to Habib House

Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty look on as guests pass through the reception line.

Last Friday, our staff at the Embassy pulled together to host an event celebrating America’s 235^th Independence Day at my residence, Habib House.  Habib House - which blends both American and Korean architectural elements – celebrates its 35^th anniversary this year.  To recognize the role the residence has played in advancing U.S.-Korea relations, we made Habib House the main theme of our Fourth of July celebration.

United States Marine Guards present the colors.

American Independence Day falls during the rainy season in Korea, and we have certainly seen some wet celebrations in the past.  But this year the weather cooperated, and my guests were able to truly enjoy the beauty of Habib House.  I was so pleased that this year, for the first time, we opened up the back lawn of the house to visitors.  

Cake cutting ceremony, a tradition at our Fourth of July event –- From left are: Chairperson of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding Lee Bae-Young, Governor of Jeollanam-do Park Joon-Yung, Minister for Gender Equality and Family Paik Hee-Young, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Uzbekistan Ambassador Vitali Fen, Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-Jin, Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Suh Kyu-Yong, Chairman of the Democratic Party Sohn Hak-Kyu, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Seung-Choon, and Commissioner General of Korean National Police Agency Cho Hyun-Oh.

The giant cake, which covered an entire table, showcased the Habib House during the four different seasons of the year.  Interns from the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy did a great job as docents (tour guides) by leading historical tours of the Habib House in both Korean and English.

Beautiful renditions of both the Korean and American national anthems were performed by Mr. Jang Sa-ik and the Seoul American High School Honors Choir.

The Republic of Korea’s national anthem, the Aeguka, along with the Star Spangled Banner, is sung at the Fourth of July celebration at Habib House every year.  This year, Mr. Jang Sa-ik, one of Korea’s top musicians, delivered a powerful, a capella rendition of the anthem that I will not soon forget, and the Seoul American High School Honors Choir performed the American anthem with beautiful precision. 

We opened up the backyard this year to give guests a little more room and enjoy the entire grounds.

Over 1,100 guests joined us to celebrate American independence, including Republic of Korea cabinet ministers, governors, mayors, business leaders and hundreds of others.  I want to thank all guests for attending and making the event such a success.  The event, I believe, was a testament to the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Korea relationship.  And there is no better symbol of that relationship than Habib House.

The Eighth Army Jazz Combo performed out back, while the Woodwind Quintet performed in front of the residence.