Atlanta – Daegu Sister City Committee web page – Dr. John Lee, Chair

The IBP is exported to South Korea:

As the North Atlanta IBP collaborations with sister cities spread from Jamaica (Montego Bay), Trinidad (Port-of-Spain), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Dominican Republic (Salcedo), England (Newcastle) and Israel (Ra’anana), the Chair of the Atlanta – Daegu (Korea) Sister City said to me: “Arnold, what about Daegu (Korea)?”

Mr. Young Kang, a successful businessman, chaired the Atlanta – Daegu Committee for twenty years and built a strong program through love of Korea and Daegu, force of will, and out of pocket martyrdom. Young Kang, a graduate of prestigious Kwungbuk High School, the third secondary school built in Korea, offered his committee’s support to both organize an exchange and institute the IBP.

I shook his hand and said; “Let’s make it a great one.” Young smiled while saying; “We will exceed that.” And they did - Young Kang, his sister city committee, and the people of Daegu moved heaven and earth to assure excellence in all aspects.

National Flower – Rose of Sharon

Sungrak Lee, English Teacher, Kwungbuk High School:

Four North Atlanta students sign up for the very long trip to Daegu:

Sungrak Lee scheduled a special assembly to welcome the North Atlanta delegation to Kwungbuk. Sungrak was my host teacher and I was fortunate to have stayed with him and his wonderful family. His father is a Christian minister and I was privileged to address the congregation. I was made to feel like of member of Sungrak’s family and his circle of teachers / friends.

Sungrak Lee introduces North Atlanta exchange group to Kwungbuk student body during a special assembly to honor their visitors.

The school administration officially received us with a special reception.

The Kwungbuk school campus is beautifully landscaped.

I am very proud of my four students who represented their high school and city in an outstanding manner. The Koreans and people of Daegu are very friendly and hospitable and made us a part of their lives. My students very comfortably integrated into the stream of the Kwungbuk school experience.

The American students were introduced to traditional Korean culture – Darron Smith and Shawn Yancey model ceremonial robes.

Sungrak’s sister-in-law was an elementary education teacher and invited us to talk to her students.

My fondest memory is of the warmth and friendship bestowed upon me by Sungrak and the other male teachers of Kwungbuk High School. They collectively made a fantastic effort to show me the different types of restaurants and evening recreation that Daegu possessed and succeeded wildly. In 1950, annual Korean per capita income was $100 – by 2002, it exceeded $15,000 and the country enjoyed well being and prosperity.

The Kwungbuk PTSA welcomed us with a barbecued meats feast at a local steakhouse with hibachi built into the middle of dining table. They bid us farewell with a 26 course feast at an honored, traditional restaurant – although many of the courses were various forms of kimchi, overall this was one of the greatest eating experiences I have ever had.

Downtown Daegu is a bustling central business district blessed with an abundance of good restaurants and a surprisingly cosmopolitan nature.

North Atlanta High reciprocates:

Kwungbuk students test their piano skills.

Kwungbuk and North Atlanta students group photo before taking tram to top of Stone Mountain.

Students on top of Stone Mountain, the largest granite out-facing in the world.

Duncan Facey, a former business executive, delivered a fine lesson on the art of penetrating foreign markets.

Kwungbuk exchange visits the King Center Memorial.

Exchange group visits the Georgia State Capitol Building.

Over the years, several Kwungbuk students have spent a semester or two at North Atlanta as part of an independent exchange.