1964-65 New York World's Fair Groundbreaking and Dedication Booklets

Pavilion of the Republic of m%

GROUNDBREAKING
AT THE
NEW YORK
WORLD'S FAIR
1964-1965

July 23, 1963

The Pavilion of The Republic of Korea will be a fascinating blend of modern
design and traditional Korean architecture which will feature a variety of
exportable products, an art gallery, a cultural hall and a restaurant serving
Korean delicacies. Kim Chung Up is the architect.

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Excerpts from transcript of remarks made by
Korean and World's Fair officials at the ground-
breaking ceremonies for the Pavilion of The
Republic of Korea at the New York World's
Fair, Tuesday. July 23. 1963.

DR. ROBERTO DE MENDOZA [Deputy Chief of
Protocol]: Your Excellencies, Mr. Consul General, Gov-
ernor Poletti, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
We are to witness here this afternoon a very significant
ceremony — the breaking of ground for the Pavilion of
The Republic of Korea. It is a very significant ceremony
because, although the Republic of Korea is a relatively
new sovereign state in the community of nations, it is
most vigorously on the march toward a brighter future
in the fulfillment of its national aspirations.

Before introducing the speakers on this important oc-
casion, I have the honor of presenting Mrs. Kim, wife of
the Ambassador of Korea to the United States; Mrs. Lee,
wife of the Ambassador of Korea to the United Nations;
and Miss Choi, one of the most famous film stars of Korea.

It is now my privilege to present a former governor ot
the State of New York. Since I960, he has traveled the
equivalent of three times around the world on behalf of

this international section. It is my great pleasure to give to
you Governor Charles Poletti, vice president of Interna-
tional Affairs and Exhibits at the Fair.

GOVERNOR CHARLES POLETTI: Your Excellen-
cies. Ambassador Kim and Ambassador Lee, Mrs. Kim.
Mrs. Lee, distinguished visitors and officials and friends.
We are very happy that the moment has come to break
ground for the Pavilion of Korea. We are happy that
Korea will have a pavilion, because Americans feel close
to Korea: hundreds of thousands of our men have served
in Korea, and Americans have been touched directly by
the valiant and persistent fight carried on by the people
of Korea to preserve and protect their freedom. We Amer-
icans feel honored to have had a part in preserving these
freedoms for the people of Korea. We realize, however,
that the job could not have been done, and will not con-
tinue to be done, without the determination and courage
and willingness to die of the people of Korea. So we
salute, on this occasion, the courageous record of the peo-
ple of Korea. We are honored by the presence here of two
very distinguished public officials, Ambassador Kim and
Ambassador Lee.

We trust that in your pavilion you will show your ex-
traordinary culture and history and some of your beauti-
ful works that I had the privilege of seeing in Korea,
that you will tell us of the remarkable progress that you
have made in the past few years in commencing an indus-

1963 New York Worlds Fair 196.M965 Corporation

His Excellency Chung Yul Kim, Ambassador of the Republic
of Korea to the United States, speaking at the groundbreaking
ceremonies for the Korean Pavilion.

trial society, and that you will also get into your pavilion
some sentiment, something that will remind us of the sac-
rifice that we went through together in that war for free-
dom and liberty.

I want to thank Mr. Hojoon Park, Director of KOTRA,
in New York, who has been working with us for many
long months; I want to thank him very much for the
whole-hearted cooperation that he has given us in these
months of collaboration. On this occasion I would like
also to make special reference to the assistance given us
by Ambassador Berger, the United States Ambassador to
Korea, who happens to be a very dear and old friend of
Mrs. Poletti and myself.

All of us are happy, delighted with the honor paid to
us today by the presence of these distinguished represen-
tatives of the Government of Korea; we hail with enthusi-
asm this groundbreaking of the Pavilion of Korea. Thank
you very much.

DR. DE MENDOZA: Thank you, Governor Poletti.
Before introducing our next eminent speaker, I should
like to present four distinguished guests who have re-
ceived World's Fair medallions: The Honorable Jae
Yong Chang, Consul General of Korea in New York ; Mr.
Ock Kim, Commercial Attache at the Embassy of Korea;
Mr. Hojoon Park, Director of the Korea Trade Promo-
tion Center; and Mr. Kim Chung Up, architect for the
pavilion.

Our next speaker is a distinguished Korean educator
and diplomat. After lecturing at the Seoul National Uni-
versity he was called to active service in the Korean Army
in 1948, and was an infantry major at the outbreak of the
Korean War. He represented the Korean armed forces at
the armistice negotiations from 1951 to 1953; at the
conclusion of the truce, he joined the foreign service of
his country. Between 1956 and I960 he represented his
country at many international conferences, both in Europe
and in America. His foreign posts included Geneva,
Paris, London and New York at the United Nations.

In I960 he was recalled home to be appointed Vice
Minister of Foreign Affairs and has been Permanent Ob-
server at the United Nations since 1961. He toured the
African states as Special Envoy in 1962 and again this
year. Among his many awards, he holds the United States
Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. It is my privilege
to present His Excellency Soo Young Lee, Ambassador
of Korea to the United Nations.

HIS EXCELLENCY SOO YOUNG LEE [Ambassador
of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations] : Gover-
nor Poletti, Ambassador Kim, distinguished guests and
friends. It is with considerable pride that I join with you
in this ceremony for the Korean Pavilion. The Republic
of Korea is dedicated, as are all other democratic and
forward-looking nations in the world, to the inspiring
motto of the Fair, "'Peace Through Understanding."

Miss Choi, one of Korea's leading film stars, presenting a
memento of her country to Governor Charles Poletti, vice
president of International Affairs and Exhibits.

What can be gained in war is always less than what can
be gained through cooperative endeavors and neighborly
understanding.

At the present time, however, this is no more than a
goal and no more than a hope. Enlightenment is a slow
process; but the darkness of national greed and hatred
and selfishness can only be ended as, one by one, we light
the candles of hope and confidence and faith. The motto
of the Fair and its whole purpose look toward the future.

The- Korean nation has a long past. Indeed, with the
history of more than four thousand years, ours is one of
the oldest nations in the world, with its continuous and
unbroken history. We are proud of our past; it is pri-
marily of use to us as it provides us the strong and staunch
foundation from which to launch ourselves into a greater
future. In keeping with this spirit my government has
chosen to build a pavilion chat does not necessarily reflect
the ancient architectural designs of our homeland, but
conforms to the newer trends of modernism, the recently
developing designs in modern achitecture. What we wish
to do is to signify, through this design, the firm determina-
tion and aspirations of our people to move ahead into full
opportunities and responsibilities in these stirring times.

As I greet you here today, and as we shall greet mil-
lions of visitors to this pavilion and to this Fair, we also
hope that we will have many thousands who may be inter-
ested in coming to our homeland which is unique in ics

beauty, in ancient charms of our historic remains and
sights. I think we have much to offer that is available no-
where else in the world. For beauty of scenery, friendli-
ness of spirit, and the antique charms of our customs, we
invite you and many other visitors to visit our homeland.

May I at last, Governor Poletti, congratulate those
who have worked closely with the Korean officials in
making this occasion possible under your eminent lead-
ership. May this Fair be a bridge to unite our countries
more closely now and through the many years to come.
Thank you.

DR. DE MENDOZA: Thank you, Ambassador Lee.
Ladies and gentlemen, now we are going to have the
great pleasure of listening to the kind words of our prin-
cipal speaker. He is a most distinguished diplomat who
was raised in the military tradition. He was co-founder
and first Commander of the Korean Aviation Corps.
Later he was first Chief of Staff of the Korean Air Force,
a post he held until he became Chief of the Korean Liai-
son Group of the United Nations Command. He had the
honor of accompanying President Syngman Rhee on his
visit to the United States in 1954; and at the invitation
of the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, he
made a tour of inspection of American Air Bases in 1956.
He was appointed Minister of National Defense in 1957,
after heading a goodwill mission as Presidential Envoy to
the Middle East and Africa, and was later elected first

chairman of the Democratic Republican Party, a post
which he resigned when he was appointed Ambassador
to the United States. It is my high honor to present His
Excellency Chung Yul Kim, Ambassador of The Repub-
lic of Korea to the United States.

HIS EXCELLENCY CHUNG YUL KIM [Ambas-
sador of the Republic of Korea to the United States}:
Governor Poletti and distinguished guests. Thank you,
Mr. Vice President, for the kind words you have said
about our country, and for the cordiality to Ambassador
Lee, myself and our staff. It is a pleasure indeed, and an
honor to take part in the greatest World's Fair in history
in this world's greatest setting. Your invitation to partici-
pate in this Fair is a privilege highly appreciated by our
countrymen.

Though ours is a small country, still poor, with the
scars of war not yet obliterated, it has been our resolution
to participate in all international affairs within our means.
So Jt is that we maintain relations with some sixty nations.
So it is that we take part in world affairs, above all, yours.
This is our biggest commitment to date in terms of plan-
ning, energy and finance. On the way to this site I've seen
preparations underway for many pavi lions, both national
and commercial. While ours may not be as imposing as
most, I can tell you one thing: our enthusiasm for u suc-
cessful exhibit is not less than that of any other partici-
pant.

THE PAVILION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

will occupy

an 18,000 sq. ft.

site in the

International

Area.

We trust that the visitors will seek us out not for gran-
deur but for the good faith which we represent. We have
greatly appreciated the coordination and assistance you
and your staff have extended us and we look forward to
continued cooperation in the months ahead. Mr. Vice
President, we trust that this World's Fair will be a tre-
mendous success. As it is a success, so also will our pavil-
ion be a success. Thank you.

PAVILION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

HIS EXCELLENCY CHUNG YUL KIM, Ambassador of Korea to the United Slates
HIS EXCELLENCY SOO YOUNG LEE, Ambassador of Korea to the United Nations
THE HONORABLE JAE YONG CHANG, Consul General of Korea in New York
MR. KIM Kl YUP, President of the Korea Trade Promotion Corporation
MR. HOJOON PARK, Director of the Korea Trade Promotion Center in New York
MR. KIM CHUNG UP, Architect

NEW YORK
Flushing 52, N.Y.

WORLD'S FAIR 1964-1965
Tel. 212-WF 4-1964

CORPORATION

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ROBERT MOSES, President

THOMAS J. DEEGAN, JR., Chairman of the Executive Committee

WILLIAM E. POTTER, Executive Vice President

CHARLES POLETTI, Vice President, International Affairs and Exhibits

STUART CONSTABLE, Vice President, Operations

WILLIAM BERNS, Vice President, Communications and Public Relations

ERWIN WITT, Comptroller

MARTIN STONE, Director of Industrial Section

GUY F. TOZZOLI, (Port of New York Authority) Transportation Section

ERNESTINE R. HAIG, Secretory of the Corporation and
Assistant to the President

WILLIAM WHIPPLE, JR., Chief Engineer