President’s Speech

2022 6 13

Sunshine's Culture Essay Written in Poetry

President’s Speech

It’s only been a month since a new president took office. It feels like a lot of things have happened since then.

For one thing, he abruptly opened the Blue House to the public. What I remember most, however, is the president of the United States visiting 10 days after the new president was sworn in. While it is unprecedented for the president of the U.S. to visit this small country this fast, I was glad that Joe Biden, the leader of my second home of 20 years, came to Korea.

Among the many videos that are introduced at the summit, what I was most interested in was their speech. I say this a lot but what I found most impressive in the U.S. was the speeches that U.S. presidents gave.

I was moved by speeches in the U.S. when I lived there.

There is the famous speech by Kennedy. Ronald Reagan, a shallow looking president who used to be a second-rate Hollywood actor, was loved for his humorous, easy to understand and concise speeches. Obama’s impromptu speech that he gave instead of what his speechwriter wrote

for him, was more touching. The individual charm and simple words of the presidents went straight into my ears, and I thought about my identity and attitude toward life.

Politics is language in the end.

While the ‘president’ is often referred to as a ‘servant’, presidents are bound to be elevated after being elected. Their words show the identity and future of the country, which makes their speeches important.

At the summit dinner at the National Museum of Korea, president Obama recited a passage of a poem by William Butler Yeats, an Irish poet, while holding a glass of juice, something he did in consideration of President Biden, who is a devout Catholic and doesn’t drink. It was probably because Biden is known to emphasize his Irish blood and love Yeats. Biden thanked him and joked that 'it would have been impossible to recite Yeats if we were in London' It was because while Yeats was one of the most famous English poets, Ireland was under British rule for hundreds of years.

It was very gratifying.

And these two scenes came to my mind.

President Kim Daejung was scheduled to meet the Japanese emperor during his visit to Japan in 1998. I visited the Blue House to tell them that it would be meaningful if they brought Hoyun Son to Japan with them, as the Japanese emperor had invited Son Hoyon two months prior and was fond of her.

And 7 years later, President Roh Moohyun was scheduled to meet the Japanese prime minister in the Blue House. I tried to persuade them that it would be received well if they mentioned peace spirit of Hoyun Son, the late poet who was loved by Japan. I used the word ‘Cultural Diplomacy’ for the first time in Korea while persuading them.

And three speech writers for President Roh came to talk to me for several hours. I suggested that I would write the speech for them. But they were not convinced that politics and literature had anything to do with each other.

It was Prime Minister Koizumi, not president Roh Moohyun who talked about Son Hoyon’s spirit of peace at the summit and the press conference at Nokjiwon, even though he was only handed a biography and a documentary about the poet without any explanation. But the cultural diplomatic spirit was spread, and Culture Affairs Bureau was established in Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks to that. And time has passed and the poem of W. B. Yeats was introduced in the speech of Korean President. It was rewarding.

Everyone has heard of the poem which Obama recited while putting the Medal of Freedom on Biden’s neck. The scene where Biden was touched and wiped tears with his hands was broadcast worldwide. Yet Biden was incredulous and wondered how Yoon knew about the poem.

President Yoon also talked about 'The Buck Stops Here' in a show but he was surprised to learn that Biden knew that he would like the gift of 'The Buck Stops Here' sign. It was rather comic.

Of course it wouldn’t have been a show that they both acted like they were surprised. But I’m incredulous that they are incredulous, as their aides would have been able to dig everything out about each other and the world is small.

While summits are supposed to be for their own national interests, I think that negotiations can go smoother when the two individuals feel closer and become friends.

I am reminded of Japan, which would run to the U.S., the country they are especially friendly with, whenever a new administration took office in the U.S.

Now the world is smaller. I feel like cultural diplomacy, literary diplomacy in Korea is being established in full swing thanks to the development and change of several things. I feel grateful that my small inter-generational endeavor for Korean-American relations and Korean-Japanese relations has been worthwhile.

Think where man's glory

most begins and ends

and say my glory was

I had such friends

William Butler Yeats 1865 - 1939

I miss one speech that lasts in the heart

After leaving my youth behind the Pacific Ocean

And coming to Korea

Whenever there is a new government

Sunshine Lee

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