Korean Canadian Senator Yonah Martin says her home country is her source of pride

Описание: 한국계 최초 캐나다 연방 상원의원 연아 마틴 "한국은 나의 자부심"

This week, we are delivering the stories of politicians of Korean descent who gathered together here in Seoul for this year's Global Korean Politicians Forum.
In Part Two of our series, our political correspondent Lee Shi-hoo sat down with Senator Yonah Martin of Canada who talked about her devoted love for her home country.

Senator Yonah Martin is the first Canadian of Korean descent to serve in Canada's Senate.
Born in Seoul, Martin immigrated to Canada in 1972.
She was an educator for 21 years.
Her involvement in co-founding the C3 Korean Canadian Society was what led her into politics.

"So this C3 society it was a non-profit group. We tried to bridge communities so have people who are not Korean experience Korean culture in Canada and be a part of a really wonderful society."

For Martin, politics was a "real sense of calling."

"I felt it like almost in a mysterious way but a real sense that I had to just step forward and do the work that I needed to do as a Canadian of Korean descent."

Since her appointment, Senator Martin has worked on many Korea-related issues.
She's authored the Korean War Veterans Day Act respecting a national day of remembrance to honor them.
She's also co-led the Canada-Korea Inter-Parliamentary Group since 2009.

"I'm the co-chair and actually a few days ago I met with my counterparts in the National Assembly and so we do this very important exchange and partnering work to really deepen our relations with Canada and Korea."

For Senator Martin, her home country is a source of pride.

"I hope that the Koreans themselves living in this country, I hope Koreans never, ever forget the history of Korea the incredible history of resilience, of just pain and trials but also triumph, and that South Korea today is a real source of pride for people like me and others around the world."

And she thinks about the trials and triumphs of her ancestors during her work.

"Sometimes I feel a bit tense or scared but I think about what's in my veins --the blood of my ancestors, my parents, the survivors --and I feel incredible strength because of that."

Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

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2023-11-17,18:00 (KST)