Santa Claus from Finland in town

Santa Claus from Finland waves hands with Korean children at Shinsegae Department Store in downtown Seoul on Christmas Eve, Monday. He said he wants to visit North Korea to help malnourished children there. / Yonhap

If you were one of those who decided to believe Santa Claus didn’t exist after one Christmas Eve when you saw your parents put gifts under the Christmas tree, here is somebody who can restore your childlike innocence.

A white-bearded old man from Finland, wearing a symbolic red coat is in town, presenting Christmas gifts to children at orphanages and daycare centers across the country, and discussed with whom he called “leaders” ways to ensure a better life for Korean children.

Perhaps, he might have been out of the country overnight on Christmas Eve to take a gift-filled sleigh from the Santa Claus Village, located eight kilometers northeast of Rovaniemi, Finland and carry out the much-anticipated mission of gift-giving to children all over the world. Except for this, he will stay here until Dec. 27.

The Korea Times recently interviewed Santa at a hotel in downtown Seoul where he was busy remote controlling his “hundreds of assistants” at the village to prepare for his “busiest night” of the year.

At a hotel-affiliated cafeteria, Santa who looked taller than 180 centimeters hurriedly drank a cup of orange juice upon its arrival as if he had completed some hard work right before the interview. He refused to share his age and name.

He paid keen interest in North Korea where millions of babies and children are suffering from chronic malnutrition in extreme poverty. For them, Christmas is one of many cold days where they have to fight hunger.

Expressing grave concerns over the hardship facing North Korean children, Santa said he will make a formal, non-brief visit to North Korea in the near future. Finland has diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.

“I feel pity that there are lots of hardships facing children in North Korea. That’s my concern,” Santa said in fluent English. “I want to visit North Korea in the future to help them.”

He didn’t provide details of his plan to visit the North, saying he is waiting for the best timing for it with the hope that Pyongyang’s living conditions will improve as early as possible.

Calling himself a missionary of peace, Santa said he tries to make the world a peaceful place and to that end he always does everything he can.

“I always do my best as a missionary of peace. The top priority is always bringing peace in the world. Secondly, I dream of a world without hunger, poverty and sickness …,” he said. “To that end, I meet and speak with leaders to make the world a better place to live.”
He has met with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and business leaders here and discussed charity campaigns with them.

He expressed concern over the commercial use of Christmas, asking people not to forget the original meaning of the day.

“It’s true. Christmas is becoming increasingly more commercial every year,” he said. “People should not forget the original meaning of Christmas which is sharing love and good feelings with family members, friends and others.”

Wrapping up the 15-minute interview, Santa left a Christmas message for Korean people: “Enjoy Christmas, get into the Christmas spirit, and take care of your children at Christmas time. Merry Christmas to all people in Korea and a Happy New Year.” <The Korea Times/Park Si-soo>