CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - Soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, participated in the Pocheon Friendship Music Concert in Pocheon, South Korea Oct. 25.
The Pocheon Friendship Concert was hosted by the Pocheon city hall to promote friendship and interaction between the local community and U.S. Army Soldiers stationed in Dongducheon and Uijeongbu.
"By hosting the concert today, I believe the citizens of Pocheon and U.S. Soldiers can develop a better understanding of each other," said Hakhyun Yoo, director for Military and Government Cooperation Division at Pocheon city hall.
As Soldiers from the Devil brigade and the 2nd Infantry Division/Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Division arrived at a soccer field in Pocheon, they formed a team to compete with the city hall's soccer team.
After playing soccer, Soldiers moved to the Changsu Center for Education and Culture where the music concert for the friendship was held.
During the concert, a few local citizens and bands performed, thereby introducing Soldiers another genre of Korean music different than what Soldiers have used to listening to in Seoul or other modernized cities in South Korea.
"I really enjoyed it," said Spc. Tommy Sandvig from Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st ABCT. "I got to experience the local culture. I saw new instruments playing awesome music. We enjoyed really great music."
At the end of the day, Soldiers were served with Kimchi soup (Kimchijjigae) and Bulgogi at a local restaurant and got the opportunity to talk to new people from the city as well as within the brigade.
To help U.S. Soldiers better understand and experience the Korean culture, a few Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, or KATUSA, Soldiers accompanied U.S. Soldiers throughout the concert.
"I think this was a great opportunity for U.S. Soldiers to experience the Korean culture," said Korean Army Cpl. Sihyun Kim, Orderly clerk at Company B, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st ABCT. "Most of all, we could talk to each other and become friends while eating Korean food at the restaurant."
Pocheon city and the U.S. Army have maintained a strong connection, as the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex is located within the city.
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