Nepal House, a gathering place for Nepalese in Seoul, opens

It was around 9:40 p.m. when more than three and half hours already passed after the beginning of the event. But, they still remained on their seats.

Some people clinked the wine glasses together while eating Nepalese food like lamb tarkari (Nepalese Lamb Yogurt Curry) and Nan bread, while other people got together in small groups and  shared their homeland news.

The event ended with taking a commemorative photograph with Anuradha Koirala, founder and director of Maiti Nepal, who was set to return to Nepal next morning.

That is the general atmosphere of the reception held at the Nepal House in Wonnam-dong, central Seoul, under the hostship of the Nepalese Association in Korea, headed by K.p. Sitoula, on Aug. 23.

About 100 people attended the reception and celebrated the opening of the Nepal House, which will be used as space for resting and education as well as other purposes for about 20,000 Nepalis living in Korea.

As was described by K.P. Sitoula, those attending the reception were Nepalis working or studying here and Koreans who help Nepal and Nepalis here in one way or another.

Among the attendants who live in Korea and can be searched on the internet included Lee In-jung, president of the Korean Alpine Federation; Kaman Singh Lama, Nepalese ambassador to Korea; Young Dam, Buddhist priest; Lee Wang-jun,  MyungJi Hospital chairman; Park Sun-ki, lawyer; Choi Oh-gyun, ‘Oh My News’ reporter; Yoo In-bong, director of  Gimpo Mirae Newspaper;  Cho Jin-soo,  mountaineer; Kim Sun-mi, former lawmaker.

In the middle of the event, a casually dressed international VIP appeared. She was Anuradha Koirala, director of the Maiti Nepal, who was selected as CNN Heroes of The Year in 2010 and awarded the Manhae Peace Prize in 2011. He was together with the secretary-general of her organization.

She was able to come to the reception because she had been in Seoul since Aug. 17 to attend an international conference.  In a congratulatory speech, she said “I hope the opening of the Nepal House would serve as a momentum to widely publicize Nepal’s diversity, beauty and smartness to the people of Korea.” At the end of her speech, she said half-jokingly “Do you know what Nepal stand for? It is ‘Never Ending Peace And Love.'”

Amb. Kaman Singh who has been serving here since last March, made a short spech but left a strong impression. “Nobody is big at the time of birth. Likewise, the Nepal House has just come into being like a new-born baby, but I hope it could grow up steadily with your help and support.”

Cho Duk-yeon, chairman of the Korea-Nepal International Exchange Association, who just returned from overseas tour, came to the reception directly from the airport with other senior members of his association. He said “I am so pleased to come to this occasion today. I would like to do whatever possible for the expansion of cultural exchanges between the two countries in the days to come.”

Kim Hee-hyung, a nurse at the National Medical Center, who volunteered for photo taking, kept pressing her camera shutter even skipping meal. “This small but meaningful event is just my taste.”

Lee Sang-ki news@theasian.asia