WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Ronald Lewis' beard has turned partially white since he was in Korea nearly 40 years ago, but his brown eyes are the same.
And an ostracized girl in a poor Korean village he befriended in 1972 — who went on to become a singing star in South Korea — never forgot them.
Lewis and Kim Insoon, now known as Insooni, were reunited Saturday in Northeast Wilmington. Insooni is in the United States for a concert tour. They hadn't seen each other in 38 years.
In this photo taken July 16, 2011, Ronald Lewis is reunited with his friend, Kim Insooni, in front of his home in Wilmington, Del. as they look at old pictures in a photo album that Lewis kept. Lewis befriended Insooni in a dirt-poor village in South Korea when he served there decades ago in the U.S. Army. Insooni has become the top pop star in South Korea. (AP-Yonhap News)
"This is a miracle," Insooni said on a sidewalk outside Lewis' home on East 35th Street. "I knew he worried about me being stuck in Korea. I wanted to tell him not to worry, that I'm successful now, so I found him. It's a very happy day."
Lewis was a 19-year-old GI when he saw 15-year-old Insoon, the daughter of a Korean mom and an American soldier who was black. Insoon was kicked out of school for being a mixed-race child. Lewis is now 58 and Insooni is 54.
"She was always sitting outside by herself," Lewis said. "So a few of the soldiers bought her clothes and helped her as much as we could."
But Insooni only remembers Lewis, whom she considers a big brother.
"I never forgot his eyes," Insooni said.
Lewis said the reunion couldn't have gone any better. Insooni burst into tears when she got out of a van and hugged Lewis for more than a minute. Lewis cried too, as did their children from their eventual marriages to other people. Lewis' friends and neighbors cried along with them.
Insooni gave Lewis flowers and a statue that is named, "Without You, I'm Nothing." The statue depicts seven ducks: five are on the flat ocean; one is trying to get to the top of a wave; and one is already at the top. Insooni's sister Kimberly Hysaw said Insooni is the duck in the middle. The duck at the top represents Lewis, who is trying to pull her up. The ducks below are her family and fans, pushing her higher.
Lewis gave Insooni her old childhood photo album. The two made a pact that she would get it back when they met again. Lewis tried to get Insooni to the United States shortly after he left the Army, but the effort was unsuccessful.
"There are a lot of memories there for you," Lewis said as he gave her the photo album. "A lot of memories that you lost. Now you have them."
The two talked in Lewis' living room for more than an hour before Insooni left. He planned to attend her concert in Secaucus, N.J., on Sunday. Lewis is a member of New Destiny Fellowship, a church in Wilmington. Those who are close to him say he helps people through his service work with the church.
Terrence Lewis, Lewis' 33-year-old son, is a physician in Washington, D.C. He came to Wilmington to witness the reunion.
<한글 기사>
인순이, '미군 오빠'와 38년만에 재회
美 현지언론 보도.."그의 눈 잊은 적 없다"
가수 인순이가 10대 시절 자신을 물심양면으로 도와준 미군 '오빠'와 38년 만에 재회했다.
델라웨어온라인 등 미국 언론은 주위의 냉대를 받던 혼혈아에서 유명 가수가 된 인순이(본명 김인순)가 지난 16일(현지시각) 미국 델라웨어주 윌밍턴에서 주한미군 출신 로널드 루이스(58)와 해후했다고 보도했다.
인순이는 루이스의 집 앞에서 그와 힘껏 포옹하면서 벅찬 감격의 눈물을 흘렸다 . 인순이는 "기적 같다. 그의 눈을 잊은 적이 없다"고 말했다.
루이스도 "인순이를 위해 항상 기도했으며 일 년에도 몇 차례씩 인순이가 나오는 꿈을 꿨다"면서 극적인 만남을 기뻐했다.
인순이는 "루이스가 나를 걱정했다는 것을 알았다. 이제 성공했으니 걱정하지 말라고 얘기하고 싶다"고 말했다.
이들은 1972년 동두천에서 인연을 맺었다. 흑인 미군 병사 아버지와 한국인 어 머니 사이에서 태어나 피부색이 다르다는 이유로 따돌림당하던 15세 외톨이 소녀 인 순이에게 19살의 루이스가 도움의 손길을 내밀었다.
루이스는 인순이에 대해 "항상 밖에 혼자 앉아있었다"고 회고했다. 인순이는 루 이스와 동료들이 "내가 여동생이라도 된 것처럼 햄버거를 사줬고 돈을 아껴 옷과 귀 걸이도 사줬다"고 말했다.
루이스가 1973년 미국으로 돌아가고나서 편지가 오갔지만 곧 끊겼다. 루이스를 찾으려 애쓰던 인순이는 지난해 미군 장성을 통해 루이스를 만나고 싶다는 소망을 밝혔고 몇 달 전에야 그와 연락이 닿았다.
루이스는 인순이의 어릴 적 모습이 담긴 사진 앨범을 건넸다. 인순이는 그에게 꽃다발과 함께 "당신이 없으면 나는 아무것도 아닙니다(Without You, I'm Nothing.) "라고 적힌 오리 조각상을 선물했다. (연합뉴스)
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