New Zealand’s ambassador will miss Korean pals

New Zealand Wine and Jazz Night drew more than 300 guests. By Moon Gwang-lip

New Zealand’s ambassador to Korea is going home, and she is going to miss the Land of the Morning Calm.
More than 300 guests joined Jane Coombs for what was to be her last New Zealand Wine and Jazz Night last Tuesday in central Seoul. The 2008 event was held at Once in a Blue Moon, a well-known jazz bar in Cheongdam-dong.
Coombs, who came to Korea in January 2006, is expected to return home next year.
“I am very sad about it,” Coombs said.
“I think there is something quite mutually connected about New Zealand and Korea, but it is very difficult to explain,” Coombs said. “I feel very much at home and at ease.”
Her sense of sadness seemed to deepen when Tim Strong, Coombs’ husband and a jazz singer, sang “Arirang” during a performance with a local jazz band.
The Korean traditional folk song is about a maiden who does not want to bid farewell to her lover. It has such a poignant melody that people who hear it often miss the good old days.
Coombs said she will miss Korea because of the great people she has met.
“Here in Korea I have been surrounded by people that I really admire,” Coombs said.
Leaving Korea is difficult for Strong as well.
“I could utilize all of my talents here, so it is so sad to go — not to mention that Korean people have been so generous to me,” said Strong, who has performed with many Korean musicians while here.
“It’s been a totally positive thing here,” he said.
The ambassador-singer couple said that culture and diplomacy go together. The wine and jazz night was their joint brainchild to showcase New Zealand culture through an embassy event.
The event took off after the couple had a meal with the Korean manager of the Blue Moon in 2006. They agreed that Strong would perform, the bar would provide the venue and Coombs would seek cooperation from New Zealand winemakers for free wine.
“Here is a beautiful image of New Zealand behind us,” Coombs said, pointing to an ad banner for a New Zealand winery. “That’s absolutely 100 percent pure New Zealand as you can see. But there’s a lot more about New Zealand as well.
“I am trying to show a little of it to Korean friends. We have fantastic wine, food, creativity, friendship and innovation,” she said.
Coombs said she plans to host other cultural events before leaving Korea.
One of the guests at the event was Kim Jong-hoon, chairman of Yeongnam Air, a Busan-based airliner. Kim was having a good time.
“I like this event because I have been a fan of New Zealand wines for the past seven or eight years,” Kim said.
“I like music, too. If possible, I want to come here again.”

By Moon Gwang-lip Staff Reporter [joe@joongang.co.kr]