Jung Nam Yim
Jung Nam Yim: 40 Years of My Immigration: A Blissful and Worthwhile Time
Today is January 14th.
Forty years ago today, I brought my family onboard a plane with a flight ticket that my brother had sent to me, and we set foot on Canadian soil and started our lives as immigrants.
When I look back on the forty years, there were definitely difficult trials, but there have also been worthwhile moments, filled with hope and happiness.
As soon as I arrived, I went to Man Power School and learned English while receiving a weekly stipend. I can’t forget our first experiences of immigrant life, which were happy and blissful moments, like in paradise.
After a period of cleaning hotels and wiping restaurant plates, I was fortunate enough to buy a corner store for $5,000 in less than two years.
Ten years from then, I became the director of the Korean Businessmen Association and served in that capacity for eighteen years. I also served the Korean Canadian Cultural Association as the director for twenty years and was part of the organization, Love for Rose of Sharon. I dedicated myself to disseminating and promoting the Rose of Sharon.
Additionally, I cannot forget being awarded the Korean award, sharing my immigrant life on MBC TV, being selected as one of the 100 notable Korean people, and being recorded for an entry in the Korean dictionary.
Forty years ago, my kids were eight and twelve years old. Now they are married and each have two sons. Our family of four has now increased to a family of ten. My thirty-five years of youth has now turned to seventy-five years. I have reached the golden age of seventy-five, but I am still filled with hope and happiness, and my life is lively.
On the morning of my 40th anniversary since I immigrated, I am writing a word of thanks to you, who have made my immigrant life worthwhile and hopeful with your interest and support.
Thank you everyone.
January 14, 2017, the morning of my 40 year anniversary
Yim Jungnam
My Life Diary (Yim Jungnam)
August 1, 1942: Born in Korea
October 1969: Model Citizen Award, Mayor of Seoul
April 1970: Model Citizen Award, Mayor of Seoul
July 1970: Saemaul Leader, Mayor of Seoul
April 1972: Model Citizen Award, Junnongdong Dongjang
May 1972: Handwriting Selected, KBS
July 1972: Special invitation to the Blue House
May 1973: Handwriting Selected, National Unification
June 1973: Radio drama, MBC
May 1974: Children’s Love Award, Seoul Mayor
December 1975: Handwriting Selected, Culture/Communication Department
January 1976: TV drama, KBS TV
March 1976: Radio drama 36th, KBS radio
June 1976: Model Citizens, Police station
January 1977: Immigration, Toronto Canada
December 1988: Handwriting Selected, Korean Business Association
March 1988: Achievement Award, Korean NDP
March 1990: Meeting, Ontario MP
November 1993: Investigation Chairman, Korean Business Association
March 1994: Investigation Chairman, KCCA
March 1997: Director, Korean Business Association
March 1997: Director, KCCA
December 1997: Vice Chairman, NDP
September 1998: Appreciation, KSCA
March 1999: Vice Chairman, Buddhist Society
August 1999: A plaque of appreciation, Businessmen’s Association
March 1999: Essay Winner, OKBA
February 2000: Vice Chairman, OKBA
February 2000: Director, Sincertrding Cooperative
March 2000: General Affairs, North Korean Committee
July 2000: Best Ball Charm, Globe n Mail
August 2000: Appreciation, KCCA
October 2000: Appreciation, KSA
August 2001: Appreciation, KCCA
December 2001: Appreciation, KCCA
August 1, 2002: Selected 100 Koreans, Korean Journal
November 2002: Korean Award, Korean-award Committee
November 2002: Photo Essay Photography, MBC TV
January 21, 2003: 1 2 Broadcasting, MBC TV
February 25, 2003: 1 2 Partial Replay, All TV
August 2003: Overseas Koreans Award Recommendation, KCCA
April 1, 2004: Appreciation Plaque, KCCA
December 19, 2008: Service Award, PAT Korean Food
November 2011: Listed in Dictionary of Korean People, YTN News
May 19, 2012: Appreciation Plaque, KCBA