Kim, who had to make the transition from "active, productive man shooting troubles with 250 children and 120 workers, to a confined man going through books." By then he had a wife and two small chitdren to support, on top of polishing his English and deciphering social work jargon. The family found housing at the First Presbyterian church at 12th and Alder, where Kim served as the resident security person. Kim appreciated the opportunities of PSU's urban setting: "A person like I am would not have survived at other schools," he remarked. Kim suffered a bIDW soon after his arrival at PSU, with the death of Harry Hott. When he was asked to return to Hott Children's Services in Korea, Kim had to make "the most difficult decision of my life." He decided to keep pursuing his degree. During Kim's field work at the Multnomah County welfare department, the second-year student had his eyes opened. "What I understood to be America was entirely distorted," said the man who had placed babies on the "sunny side" of American culture. "For the first time I saw the other side of America." When Kim received his MSW, Holt Children's Services, then based in Creswell, was at a critical juncture. In order to be licensed, the agency needed a trained social worle:er on staff. tt was also important for the agency to establish working relationships with other social service agencies around the country. Kim was offered the associate directorship and he accepted, giving up his idea of training social workers in Korea, and beginning to realize that Holt was to be his Ufe. With his professkJnal training and his eight years of direct experience, Kim was able to help Holt diversify and gBin a sotid foothotd in the professional world as well as in the Third World, where wars and poverty created a steady supply of needy children. People to peopte diplomacy While the certified social worker considered himself a "catalyst and facilHator," he was stitt escorting babies across the Pacific in his arms. "I violated the social work rule of not getting involved," admitted Kim. "It was very emotional work. On the plane one trip I was praying the whole time because an engine had been shot off. I was pumping oxygen into one child, cooped up in that plane, up in the air. Two children died on that trip." He paused. "It makes you otd fast." Kim suffered a heart attack in 1978, and has had to restrict his activities, including escorts. But he has had the pleasure of taking young adults on 'Motherland Tours' to Korea, where "their cups are filled" by experiencing the cutture and heritage of their native country, "I'm blessed to be here long enough to see the entire cycle," said Kim. Of his work with Holt, Kim says, "It's like a dream come true, but not in the way I envisioned." As the grandson of a miSSionary growing up in China, then as student body president in his school In South Korea, Kim had seen a future in international diplomacy. With the war, his father's death, and his introduction to Harry Holt, Kim became acutely aware of the devastating effect of war on children. "I was very grateful that my Sisters and brothers and I didn't become victims." "Uke in Vietnam, if it was just a war, we wouldn't be tBiking about it. But we have the children, you see?" To Kim, Children are a "country's resource for tomorrow," but they can become a liability if they aren't nurtured with good home life, education, and health care. "Small nations are spending so much money on defense budgets," he lamented. "I can see what not buying one tank can do for children. They should be putting direct resources into the people's welfare," plight of the children of one world. What we do sort of helped. We try to make this world closer." The "people-to-peopte diplomacy" of Holt Intemational is finding its way into the Kim home, as they anticipate the adoption of an eight-year But his 26 years with Holt International have also given him some hope. "I see more the shrinking of the worfd. There's not that much distance. More parents have concerns for the old Korean girl who needs heart surgery. "It's a little late to start another family, but there's no other place for her to go," said Kim, who has intemalized Holt's philosophy. "We never give up," he explains. "The one more chance can mean success." PSU dean delivers paper to Korean social workers, visits Holt programs "Korea is very lucky to have a man of his caliber coming to present a paper," said David Kim about the Dean of PSU's School of Social Work, Bernard Ross. Ross was Kim's special guest at an International seminar on unwed mothers held in Seoul in late March. Rapid industrialization in Korea has broken down the strong extended family structure, with young women traveling to the city to get jobs and becoming isolated and vulnerable, noted Ross. Korean social workers have been observing the symptoms but wanted to know from experts like Ross how the new social problem could be treated and prevented. "They've not yet developed the infrastructure of public and voluntary service to address the problems of industrialization," said Ross, who offered policy and program models to the gathering of 300 social worle:ers. A nationwide emphasis on economic development has left much to be done in the area of social service, he said. While in Korea, Ross visited Holt International Children's Services facilities, and was moved to tears by the training school for the handicapped. Ross also gave guest lectures at two universities and enjoyed the 24-hour bustle of SeouL While several alumni of the School of Social Worle: live in Seoul, most were away on business: but Ross did meet with Cho Song Kyung ('69, '71 MSW), who now heads the ~?d:~:~~~~~1 t:~tt!ts~~~a~u;n~~~e~s~Z't=~~~~YC:~~ to Portland State actually flew in last month to enroll. Kim and Ross are now discussing the possibility of an annual exchange of ideas between Korean and American social workers. 5
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