Traditional Korean tea culture and customs exhibited at Osan

  • Published
  • By By Staff Sgt. Emerson Nuñez
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  A lecture on Korean tea culture and customs was held at the Exchange here Oct. 22 by Kum Hee Park, traditional tea culture and customs teacher at the Bosean Traditional Tea Museum and wife of the Boseung mayor.

There was an open invitation for anyone walking through the Exchange food court to have an opportunity to sit down, learn something new and enjoy a hot cup of green tea.

"I thought the lecture was really nice and it's nice to experience different parts of Korean culture," said Lauro Domenech, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade intelligence analyst. "The tea was delicious. I enjoyed learning something new and I also appreciate them traveling up here from Boseung."

Bosean is known nationally and internationally as one of the best producers of green tea leaves. About 40 percent of Korea's green tea is produced in the hills of Boseung.

A combination of unique weather conditions and good soil combine together to make an ideal place to grow tea trees. One of the contributing factors includes the fact that the average temperature in Boseung is 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Park and the seonsaeng, or teachers, helped everyone that participated go through each step in the ceremony.

"Today I was very happy and grateful to see military members trying their best to learn Korean culture and traditions," Park said.