PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — Twenty-eight sailors from the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), temporarily moored at Pyeongtaek Port, joined a cultural tour of Seoul, Sept. 20, to learn more about Korean history and traditions.
The trip was organized at the request of U.S. Navy Chaplain (Capt.) Leroy Young, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and coordinated by U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys Public Affairs Office in partnership with Gyeonggi Province through the U.S. Forces Korea Culture and Security Program.
“All sailors who joined today’s tour are visiting Korea for the first time,” said Young. “When pulling into an unfamiliar port, service members often don’t know how to spend their free time. Programs like this give them a meaningful chance to learn about the local culture.”
The sailors visited Gyeongbokgung Palace and National Folk Museum of Korea with a professional English-speaking guide, enjoyed a traditional Korean barbecue meal, and explored Bukchon Hanok Village, where they participated in a hands-on tassel bag cham-making activity.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Andres Fonts, a mass communications specialist on the USS Blue Ridge, said he especially enjoyed Gyeongbokgung Palace and Korean barbecue.
“It was a very culturally immersive experience to walk around Korean history and learn about it,” Fonts said. “Opportunities like this to learn about the culture and history of the country where we serve are valuable to service members, and I believe such opportunities contribute to strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”
The Blue Ridge sailors are currently stationed in Japan, but their ship was temporarily moored in Pyeongtaek during the visit. The cultural exchange gave them a chance to connect with the host nation during their deployment.
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