U.S.Ambassador Mark Lippert left in Korea

I was going through some news articles and then this particular news interview caught my attention. It was the news and interviw before U.S.Ambassador Mark Lippert  left in Korea . 

"Lippert made the remarks during a press meeting held before boarding a plane for the United States at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. Appointed by President Barack Obama as his top envoy in Seoul in October 2014, he was returning home in time for Donald Trump's inauguration slated for Friday . "

While reading through thi s interview, I couldn't help but recollecting memories of  the attack that he was slashed by an aggressor.

[출처] 리퍼트 주한미국 대사의 임기말 감동적인 인터뷰|작성자 국제아나운서정세[출처] 리퍼트 주한미국 대사의 임기말 감동적인 인터뷰|작성자 국제아나운서정세미

U.S. Ambassador to S. Korea, Mark Lippert, had a terrible attack in March 2015. And he says, he hasn't fully recovered yet,  but still, his love for the country "Korea" was unchanged. He also demonstrated his passion and love for his job:being and working as a diplomat.  Mark Lippert was the  youngest U.S. Ambassador as Obama 's closest envoy. He had a special concerns on Korea, Korean p. ople and culture.  He said that Here are the reasons why Korea is special to him. Most of all, two of his children were born in Korea. Also  During the hardship (when the terrible attack occurred), Korean people helped him out. And then He has made some good memories here in Korea. He had experience interesting Korean culture and have many funny episodes. He enjoyed watching Korean baseball game and eating fried chicken in ball park . Also he liked taking walk near the U.S. Embassy with his dog. Actually , he was  also  seen near the Deoksugung  by people.

[출처] 리퍼트 주한미국 대사의 임기말 감동적인 인터뷰|작성자 국제아나운서정세미[출처] 리퍼트 주한미국 대사의 임기말 감동적인 인터뷰|작성자 국제아나운서정세미

최연소 주한미대사, 오바마의 최측근이라는  리퍼트 대사는 2015년 한국에서 괴한한테 피습을 당하는 등 곤욕을 치뤘으나, 그 후에도 당당하게  덕수궁 근처를  개와 함께 산책다니고 프로야구장에 야구 관람하는 모습이 자주  목격되었다.  그는 한국에서의 재임 기간 예쁜 두 아이를  낳았고  서툴더라도 한국어로 소통하려 노력하는 등 한국의 문화를 사랑하기를 멈추지 않은 사람으로 그동안 주한 미 대사 중에서 한국인들에게 가장 사랑받은 주한 미대사일 것이다. 대한민국 국민 모두  정치적인 노선이 어떠하든   그런 그의 용기와 권위적이지 않은 모습에 존경과 사랑을 보낸다. 

Thank you for loving Korea and Korean. I hope you forget bad things and have a good memories in Korea. We will miss you.  

5일 오전 흉기 습격을 당한 마크 리퍼트 주한 미국대사가 서울 서대문구 신촌세브란스 병원으로 들어가고 있다. 연합뉴스

U.S., South Korea need to further strengthen alliance against many challenges: Mark Lippert /2017/01/20 16:08

/By Koh Byung-joon

INCHEON, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Time is of the essence in dealing with geopolitical and security challenges facing the Northeast Asian region, the outgoing top U.S. envoy to South Korea said Friday, adding that the current situation warrants more efforts by Washington and Seoul to strengthen their alliance.

Ambassador Mark Lippert noted that he remains optimistic about the future of the two allies, citing a strong foundation and mechanisms that will help them iron out any differences of opinions taking place under any administration.

Accompanied by his family, including the two children, Lippert made the remarks during a press meeting held before boarding a plane for the United States at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. Appointed by President Barack Obama as his top envoy in Seoul in October 2014, he was returning home in time for Donald Trump's inauguration slated for Friday (local time). 

"Time is of the essence. This is a region where geopolitical, security and economic challenges are real and significant. The relationship and the alliance need to get stronger and stronger over time, and that would be my advice to anyone who manages this alliance between the two countries," he added.

Lippert reaffirmed that the U.S. and South Korea are maintaining very strong ties.

"The alliance at this point of time is in the best shape it has been in history, and that gives you a very strong foundation. The alliance now has strong institutional mechanisms to drive dynamic change and to keep the alliance adaptable but also to manage differences of opinions," he said. 

"There is also almost endless opportunity for our future cooperation in more traditional areas like security or the economy but new areas -- energy environment, cyberspace. So the cooperative opportunities are there for the taking ... and that gives me a reason for optimism," he added. 

Regarding worries over serious challenges confronting South Korea, he voiced optimism, saying that the two allies have successfully weathered many difficult times together over the past decades and that both will be able to do so again in the future. 

"Embedded in your question is that great challenges confront the Republic of Korea, great challenges confront the U.S. and great challenges confront our alliance. That's the story of our history and that's the story or our alliance. Great challenges, great opportunity leading to great success. And I think that history will be written in the future as well," he said.

Asked what will be the most memorable things during his stay here, he cited having two kids here and giving them Korean names. He also cherished "little things" that he could experience, including Korean food and people in traditional markets. 

Lippert has been credited with his efforts to actively engage with the South Korean people, which helped him earn the recognition of being one of the most beloved American ambassadors ever. His tenure here has also been marked by the surprise knife attack in 2015 during an early morning public gathering in Seoul.

In response to a question about what advice he would give to his successor, he underlined the importance of getting close to Korean people to better understand their life besides carrying out his or her main obligation to strengthen alliance between the two countries. 

"Advice for success? I would say that I have already said, which is to use the foundation, use the mechanisms and use the opportunity and move forward, not back. That would be the first thing," he said. 

"Second thing is for anyone. You have to have a little bit of 'jeong' to really understand our relationship. You can do the job by reading books. You can do the job by getting briefings. (But) you have to go out and experience jeong by yourself," he added. Jeong is a Korean word similar to affection.

Lippert said that he has been honored to serve as the U.S. envoy in Seoul for more than two years and that it is "sad" to leave the country but promised to do his best as a private citizen to help improve the relationship between the two partners. 

Bidding his farewell, he also expressed appreciation for the "love" and the "attention" that he and his family have received from the Korean people and ended the press meeting by saying his signature slogan in Korean, "Let's go together.