Korean room on fundraising roll

On average, it takes a committee 10 years to fund raise approximately $500,000, plan and… On average, it takes a committee 10 years to fund raise approximately $500,000, plan and construct one of the Cathedral of Learning’s Nationality Rooms.

The Korean Heritage Room committee has a different timeline in mind.

“We plan on breaking a record. We realize it will be a challenge, but we believe we can have the room finished within three years,” Kwan Il Lee, founder of the Korean Heritage Room committee, said. “Our goal is to have all the money raised by March 1, 2010, the day of the 65th anniversary of Korea’s independence.”

At the Korean Heritage Room Committee’s first public meeting on Saturday morning, various speakers reported on the room’s latest financial status.

“Currently we have $13,038. Considering we started fundraising less than a year ago, we’re satisfied with this amount,” Sangyeun Paul Cho, a member of the committee, said.

The room will “educate others about the great nation of Korea,” Lee said. “We hope the room will let the Korean community mingle with other cultural communities in the Pittsburgh area and the world.”

With more than 30,000 people visiting the Nationality Rooms every year, the committee believes having a Korean Room will help increase public awareness of Korean culture.

The Korean Heritage Room Committee officially formed and began to work with the University last summer, on July 4, 2007.

On Sept. 27, 2007, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg sent the group confirmation that its application for a Korean Heritage Nationality Room was approved. The committee was permanently given the keys to room 304 and an official place among the 26 existing Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral.

In order to gain the momentum on the committee’s fundraising efforts, its members hope to increase awareness of the importance of the establishment of a Korean Nationality Room.

“We know we’re not going to get the majority of our money from individuals,” Lee said. “More important than that, we want the citizens of Pittsburgh to know this project is worthwhile.”

Last month, the committee hosted a flea market and raised more than $1,000. The committee plans on holding a folk festival, food bazaar and banquets in the future.

“We hope to gain the majority of our funds from businesses and grants from the U.S. and Korean governments,” Lee said.

Personal sacrifices were also made to further push the Korean Heritage Room’s progress, since the project has aspirations of operating on such a short timeline.

“I chose to stop working until the project is done,” committee member MyungWoo Lee said. “Despite the long hours and sometimes sleepless nights, we find it so rewarding and such an enriching experience because of the involvement and dedication of other people.”

Once the committee gathers at least half of the necessary money, construction of the room can begin and typically runs for six months if the funds are there to continue construction.

“The design plans aren’t done yet, but I, personally, would like to have the Hangeul (the Korean Alphabet) maybe across the blackboard,” Lee said. “I’d also like to incorporate the Korean national colors, red and blue, throughout the room and to possibly have parts of Buddhist temples, too.”

Besides the Korean Heritage Room, nine additional Nationality Rooms are in the process of raising money to begin construction.