Peace Corps Volunteers gather in Seoul, possibly for last time

Seventeen members of the first U.S. Peace Corps cohort in Korea returned to Seoul for the mission’s 60th anniversary, gathering with Korean friends and officials at The Plaza Seoul hotel. Korea Foundation President Song Guido and former Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan praised the volunteers’ lasting human ties with Korea. The Korea Foundation said there are no current plans for future Revisits, and some participants suggested this may be the last of its kind.

More than 2,000 American Peace Corps volunteers served in Korea between 1966 and 1981 across 51 K-missions.

The Korea Foundation introduced the Revisit program in 2008 and said it has been held at least 13 times, bringing back at least 800 volunteers.

The Korea Foundation Award to Friends of Korea came with $20,000 and marked the award’s 10th year.

Published Sep 19, 2026 8:49 pm KST

Updated Sep 19, 2026 9:13 pm KST

Volunteers celebrate 'hwangap' 60th anniversary of Korea mission

Peace Corps Volunteers, their Korean former co-workers and members of Friends of Korea and the Korea Foundation pose together after a dinner and award ceremony at The Plaza Seoul hotel, Sept. 16. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Korea was in a much different state of development when U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) arrived in Korea for the first time, on Sept. 16, 1966. Sixty years later, 17 members of this first cohort, classified as K-1, returned to Korea to celebrate the mission's "hwangap," or 60th birthday.

"Sixty years ago, you came to Korea as young volunteers," Song Guido, president of the Korea Foundation (KF), told the assembled PCVs during a dinner at The Plaza Seoul hotel, where they were joined by family members, Korean former co-workers and other members of Friends of Korea (FOK), a nonprofit organization founded by PCVs in 2002.

"You came to teach, to work, but you also became part of communities, and formed friendships that have lasted for 60 years. Looking around this room tonight, we can see that this connection is still very much alive."

"My friendship with three former PCVs helped shape my image of America," said Yoon Young-kwan, a former foreign minister of Korea. "PCVs have built that human connection as an important moment in Korea's history, and FOK has helped sustain it across generations."

More than 2,000 American PCVs served in Korea between 1966 and 1981, across 51 K-missions.

"They taught English, served in public health, supported education and community development, but their greatest contribution was the relationships they built," U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel said in a prerecorded video message played at the dinner. "They learned from Korea, they made lifelong friendships, and many carried those friendships home with them. They remind us that our relationship is not only about governments. It is about people."

A U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer teaches a class in Korea in this undated photo. Courtesy of Korea Foundation

Steven Choi, a California state senator, also contributed a video message, mentioning that he had served as a language instructor for the inbound PCVs, helping prepare them for their service in Korea. He added that the work brought him to the U.S. for the first time.

"Governments can sign treaties. Leaders can hold summits. But the lasting friendship is built one person at a time," he said.

U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and U.S. Rep. Young Kim, who did not attend, also presented the KF with certificates of special recognition, which were on display during the dinner.

Most of the PCVs flew in from the U.S., but two participants are still living in Korea, while another arrived from Japan.

A group of Peace Corps Volunteers in Korea / Courtesy of Frank Concilius

"After returning to the U.S., I missed the sense of adventure that I had felt in Korea," said Frank Concilius, a K-1 PCV who lives in Seoul. "Although Korea has obviously gone through enormous changes since 1966, I still love the country and its people. I’ve been here for a president’s assassination, attended the ’88 Olympics and have closely observed the incredible economic and social development that has occurred."

"I’ve lived through martial law and the democracy movement, being tear-gassed on several college campuses and have been closely involved with Korean college students and professors as they have changed over the years. Having made lifelong friends among both my students and colleagues, I remain committed to deepening my understanding of this amazing, adopted country," Concilius added.

At the dinner, KF presented FOK President Gerry Krzic and Board of Directors member Jenna Gibson with the Korea Foundation Award. The annual award, now in its 10th year, also comes with $20,000.

“We are presenting the Korea Foundation Award to FOK to express our appreciation for the dedication of PCVs who began serving in Korea 60 years ago, and for their continued efforts to strengthen friendship between Korea and the United States,” Song said. “We hope this return visit will further deepen the longstanding bonds between the Volunteers and Korea, and provide another opportunity for the people of our two countries to grow closer and better understand one another.”

Flowers are presented to Friends of Korea President Gerry Krzic, third from left, after he received the 10th Korea Foundation Award from Korea Foundation President Song Guido at The Plaza Seoul hotel, Sept. 16. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Krzic said that the award "not only inspires us to continue our work in building mutual understanding between Koreans and Americans."

He added, "With your most generous financial gift, we will use that for a new generation of Koreans and Americans to understand each other."

After receiving the award, Krzic presented lifetime FOK memberships to KF members Jang Ki-ho and Jeong Eun-sil. Jeong was thanked for her role in distributing the survival box , a package of pandemic supplies mailed out to PCVs living in the U.S.

"We appreciated it," said Gloria Mamokhin, one of the recipients who was in attendance. She served in Korea from 1969 to 1971, during which she founded the country's first speech therapy clinic.

"I came up with the idea of putting dabang coffee in the box," Mayer added with a sly smirk.

From left, Friends of Korea (FOK) President Gerry Krzic, FOK Board of Directors member Jenna Gibson, Korea Foundation (KF) official Jang Ki-ho, FOK Vice President Jim Mayer and KF official Jeong Eun-sil pose together at The Plaza Seoul hotel, Sept. 16. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

"KF has been a more than a partner with FOK. KF has been a brother, a sister, walking together with us and bringing us back to Korea for us to enjoy the hospitality that has been given to us," said Jim Mayer , vice president of FOK. "I think since 2008 was the first one we did. We had a break during the COVID period and came back, and now here we are with 60 years of experience of volunteers who first arrived."

The Revisit program was introduced in 2008 by KF to welcome PCVs back to the country they helped develop. It has been held at least 13 times, inviting at least 800 Volunteers. The project has been slowing down in recent years, and the number of participants is shrinking. There are currently no plans for any future Revisits.

"Revisits were never meant to go on indefinitely," Krzic told the Korea Times. "The original intention was to try to get as many PCVs as possible who were capable of visiting and wanted to come, and I think we are close to accomplishing that. This turned out to be a real special one, with the hwangap."

"I'm guessing this is the last of this kind of a Revisit," Mayer added, while also saying, "You never know what's gonna happen."

"The mission's not going to change at all. It's just going to be not so perhaps Peace Corps-centric," Krzic said. "We don't want to just be about Peace Corps. FOK has a broader mission than that. So we are intentionally trying to approve new members of a different demographic: the younger youth ambassadors we have, Fulbrighters and just other people that are interested in Korea, through K-pop, K-drama, other ways they've come to love Korea. So if we can get them into our membership, that will give us good energy too."

During their visit, the PCVs also visited the National Assembly, met people at the Korea International Cooperation Agency and World Friends Korea, toured historic sites and museums, and enjoyed plenty of Korean food and makgeolli.

Even if the Revisit program is discontinued, the PCVs' accomplishments in education and health, community development and bilateral ties will live on.

"Some of the memories will fade, but our hearts will never forget," Krzic said.

Visit friendsofkorea.net for more information.

[FRIENDS OF KOREA] Reunited after more than 30 years

[FRIENDS OF KOREA] What it was like teaching English for a semester in Danyang in 1978

[FRIENDS OF KOREA] Cycling Korea's east coast in 1968

为庆祝美国和平队首批赴韩志愿者服务60周年，17名志愿者重返首尔，在首尔广场酒店与韩国友人及官员欢聚一堂。韩国国际交流财团理事长宋贵都和前外交部长尹英宽高度赞扬了志愿者们与韩国建立的深厚情谊。韩国国际交流财团表示，目前暂无再次访问韩国的计划，一些与会者也认为这可能是最后一次此类活动。

1966 年至 1981 年间，超过 2000 名美国和平队志愿者在 51 个韩国任务中服务。

韩国国际交流财团于 2008 年推出了“重返韩国”项目，并表示该项目至少举办了 13 次，至少带回了 800 名志愿者。

韩国基金会向韩国之友颁发的奖项奖金为 2 万美元，今年是该奖项设立的第 10 年。

发布于2026年9月19日晚上8:49（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月19日晚上9:13（韩国标准时间）

志愿者庆祝“黄甲”韩国传教60周年

9月16日，和平队志愿者、他们的韩国前同事以及韩国之友和韩国财团的成员在首尔广场酒店参加完晚宴和颁奖典礼后合影留念。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）

1966 年 9 月 16 日，美国和平队志愿者首次抵达韩国时，韩国的发展状况与现在大不相同。六十年后，第一批志愿者中的 17 名（编号为 K-1）重返韩国，庆祝和平队成立 60 周年。

“六十年前，你们作为年轻的志愿者来到韩国，”韩国基金会（KF）主席宋贵道在首尔广场酒店举行的晚宴上对聚集在一起的和平队志愿者们说道。他们的家人、韩国前同事以及韩国之友（FOK）的其他成员也出席了晚宴。韩国之友是由和平队志愿者于2002年创立的非营利组织。

“你们来到这里教书、工作，但你们也融入了社区，建立了持续了60年的友谊。今晚环顾在座各位，我们可以看到这种联系依然非常牢固。”

“我与三位前和平队志愿者的友谊塑造了我对美国的印象，”韩国前外交部长尹英宽说。“和平队志愿者们建立的这种人与人之间的联系，是韩国历史上一个重要的篇章，而韩国之友协会则帮助维系了这种联系，使其代代相传。”

从 1966 年到 1981 年，超过 2000 名美国和平队志愿者在韩国服役，参与了 51 次 K-任务。

“他们教英语，服务公共卫生，支持教育和社区发展，但他们最大的贡献是他们建立的人际关系，”美国驻韩国大使米歇尔·斯蒂尔在晚宴上播放的预录视频致辞中说道。“他们从韩国学习，结交了终生挚友，许多人将这些友谊带回了家。他们提醒我们，我们之间的关系不仅仅是政府间的关系，更是人民之间的关系。”

这张未注明日期的照片显示，一位美国和平队志愿者正在韩国授课。照片由韩国基金会提供。

加州州参议员史蒂文·崔也录制了一段视频致辞，他在致辞中提到，他曾担任即将赴韩和平队志愿者的语言教师，帮助他们为在韩国的服务做好准备。他还补充说，这份工作让他第一次来到了美国。

他说：“各国政府可以签署条约，领导人可以举行峰会，但持久的友谊是靠每个人的共同努力建立起来的。”

美国参议员安迪·金和美国众议员杨·金虽然没有出席，但也向韩国基金会颁发了特别表彰证书，这些证书在晚宴期间进行了展示。

大多数和平队志愿者是从美国飞来的，但有两名志愿者仍然居住在韩国，还有一名志愿者是从日本来的。

一群在韩国的和平队志愿者 / 图片由弗兰克·康西利厄斯提供

“回到美国后，我很怀念在韩国感受到的那种冒险精神，”居住在首尔的K-1级和平队志愿者弗兰克·康西利厄斯说道。“虽然韩国自1966年以来发生了翻天覆地的变化，但我仍然热爱这个国家和这里的人民。我曾亲历总统遇刺事件，也曾观看1988年冬奥会，并亲眼见证了这里令人瞩目的经济和社会发展。”

“我亲身经历了戒严时期和民主运动，在几所大学校园里遭遇过催泪瓦斯，多年来一直与韩国大学生和教授保持着密切联系，见证了他们的变化。我在学生和同事中结下了终生的友谊，我将继续致力于加深对这个我视为第二故乡的奇妙国家的了解，”康西利乌斯补充道。

晚宴上，韩国基金会向韩国基金会主席格里·克尔齐克和董事会成员珍娜·吉布森颁发了韩国基金会奖。该奖项今年已是第十届，奖金为2万美元。

宋先生表示：“我们向韩国和平队基金会颁发韩国基金会奖，是为了表达我们对60年前开始在韩国服务的和平队志愿者们的敬意，以及对他们为加强韩美友谊所做出的持续努力的感谢。我们希望此次回访能够进一步加深志愿者与韩国之间源远流长的友谊，并为两国人民提供又一次增进彼此了解、增进友谊的机会。”

9月16日，在首尔广场酒店，韩国之友协会主席格里·克尔齐克（左三）从韩国财团主席宋贵道手中接过第十届韩国财团奖后，获赠鲜花。（《韩国时报》乔恩·邓巴摄）

克尔齐奇表示，该奖项“不仅激励我们继续努力，增进韩国人和美国人之间的相互了解”。

他补充道：“有了您慷慨的捐助，我们将用它来促进新一代韩国人和美国人之间的相互了解。”

克尔齐奇在领奖后，向韩国和平基金会成员张基浩和郑恩实颁发了终身FOK会员资格。郑恩实因其在分发“生存包”中所发挥的作用而受到表彰，该生存包是将疫情期间的物资邮寄给居住在美国的和平队志愿者的。

“我们非常感激，”获奖者之一格洛丽亚·马莫欣说道，她也出席了颁奖仪式。她于1969年至1971年在韩国服役，期间创办了韩国第一家语言治疗诊所。

“我想到把达邦咖啡放进盒子里，”梅耶尔狡黠地笑着补充道。

9月16日，韩国之友（FOK）主席Gerry Krzic（左）、FOK董事会成员Jenna Gibson、韩国财团（KF）官员张基浩、FOK副主席Jim Mayer和KF官员郑恩实在首尔广场酒店合影。照片由《韩国时报》Jon Dunbar拍摄。

“KF对FOK而言不仅仅是合作伙伴，更像是兄弟姐妹，与我们并肩前行，带领我们重返韩国，让我们再次体验到韩国人民的热情好客，”FOK副总裁吉姆·梅耶说道。“我想，自从2008年我们第一次来到这里，在新冠疫情期间我们暂停了一段时间，之后又重新开始，如今我们已经拥有了60年经验的志愿者队伍，他们最初就是第一批来到这里的人。”

“重返家园”项目由科威特基金会于2008年发起，旨在欢迎和平队志愿者重返他们曾参与建设的国家。该项目已举办至少13次，邀请了至少800名志愿者。近年来，该项目进展缓慢，参与人数也在减少。目前尚无任何未来举办“重返家园”项目的计划。

“重访活动原本就不是无限期进行的，”克尔齐奇告诉《韩国时报》，“最初的目的是尽可能多地邀请有能力且愿意前来访问的和平队志愿者，我认为我们已经接近目标了。这次与黄甲的访问非常特别。”

“我猜这是最后一次这种类型的重访了，”梅耶补充道，同时他还说，“你永远不知道会发生什么。”

“我们的使命不会有任何改变，只是可能不会再那么以和平队为中心了，”克尔齐克说道。“我们不想仅仅局限于和平队。FOK 的使命远不止于此。因此，我们有意吸纳不同群体的新成员：比如我们现有的年轻青年大使、富布赖特学者，以及其他对韩国感兴趣的人，他们可能通过 K-pop、韩剧或其他途径爱上了韩国。如果我们能让他们加入我们，也会给我们带来积极的能量。”

访问期间，和平队志愿者们还参观了国会，会见了韩国国际合作机构和韩国世界之友的工作人员，参观了历史遗迹和博物馆，并品尝了大量的韩国美食和米酒。

即使“重返家园”计划终止，和平队志愿者在教育和卫生、社区发展和双边关系方面取得的成就也将继续存在。

“有些记忆会褪色，但我们的心永远不会忘记，”克尔齐奇说道。

请访问 friendsofkorea.net 获取更多信息。

【韩国之友】时隔三十余年重聚

【韩国之友】1978年在丹阳教一个学期英语的经历

【韩国之友】1968年骑行韩国东海岸