Korean students visit the man’amko, do cleanup

Students and teachers from Dong Myung University in Busan, South Korea spent time with the congregates at the Aging Center during their visit on June 27 and 28.

A total of 32 university students and three instructors, who arrived on island on June 24, bonded with the island’s elderly population through various games and activities.

On Monday, the students and the man’amko played bingo, ground golf, and pool. Yesterday morning, they played softball and performed dance routines.

The Korean visitors, who are scheduled to leave early Friday morning, are staying at the Hotel Riviera Saipan, which coordinated this trip.

Sen Kim, Hotel Riviera Saipan international coordinator, said this is the first time for the group to be on Saipan.

He said the visiting group also did a cleanup along Beach Road and visited the Northern Marianas College where they did grounds maintenance, including bush cutting, picking up trash, painting, and cleaning the NMC logo.

Kim said this was also the first time they made arrangements for a Korean student group, who are visiting as part of their community service.

“They’re young students and they have the patience. We thought we could bring them to the Aging Center and give them time to enjoy sports and other activities with the man’amko,” he said.

Jun Young Kim, who is from Chang-Won and is taking up robotics engineering, said through interpreter Chang Hwan Seol that he likes Saipan.

“It has very nice view and random weather,” the 22-year-old Young told Saipan Tribune. “It’s also nice playing with all the grandmas and the grandpas.”

Ryudong Woo, 25, said Saipan is beautiful. “I would come back again for vacation,” said the finance management student.

Kyeong Soo, president of the Dong Myung University student union, said they really enjoyed spending time with the man’amko.

“I feel that we are very close together. Even though we have different nationality, age, gender and we can’t converse well, it doesn’t really matter. We’re glad to help them,” said Soo through interpreter Sen Kim.

Saipan Seniors Advisory Council Teresita Sorroza said all the congregates felt pampered by the Korean students’ visit.

“The man’amko are very happy of their visit. They’re very active, they danced, they played, they helped the man’amko. We hope to see more young visitors stop by the Aging Center,” she added.