Peace Corps Volunteers Reflect on 15 Years of Service in Korea, Highlighting Enduring U.S.-Korea Ties
The Peace Corps sent over 2,000 American volunteers to Korea between 1966 and 1981, a period when Korea was one of the world's poorest nations following Japanese occupation and the Korean War. These volunteers, known as PCVs, provided crucial development assistance, primarily focusing on English education in middle schools and universities, as well as health education and care for patients with tuberculosis and leprosy. U.S. President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 with the goals of helping countries meet their need for trained individuals, promoting a better understanding of America abroad, and helping Americans understand other cultures. Volunteers underwent intensive training, including Korean language instruction and acculturation, before being deployed to various towns across Korea. Many PCVs reported gaining more from their experience than they gave, forming lifelong friendships and contributing to a deeper understanding between the two nations. The mission concluded in 1981 due ...
