The Korea Times
As ambassadors, we are accustomed to moving in diverse circles. In Seoul, the diplomatic corps includes representatives from 116 bilateral and 30 multilateral missions. Every day, we see our friends and colleagues from a variety of regions and cultures. Indeed, it takes 27 hours to fly between our respective capitals, Dublin and Port Moresby, and yet our daily lives here in Seoul are not so dissimilar. However, as a foreigner living in Seoul, the daily experience is not always characterized by cultural diversity. Like Ireland 30 years ago, society can still seem culturally and ethnically homogenous. It’s really great to immerse yourself in Korean culture and language, but sometimes "oegukgin" (Korean for foreigner) crave a bit of exposure to different cultures. In Hannam-dong, there is a small Catholic church which celebrates and showcases diversity. As regular attendees, both of us have experienced the warm embrace of the community contained within the inconspicuous red-brick building just by the bus stop on Hannam-daero. The St. Francis Catholic International Parish of Seoul was est
Go to News Site