Elizabethtown creates position to aide with South Korean relations

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The City of Elizabethtown has appointed one of its residents to serve as Director of South Korean Relations.

The City Council approved Hanna Yun's appointment at its meeting Tuesday night.

Ford and South Korean company, SK, have partnered to create BlueOvalSK, a partnership tasked with producing batteries for Ford and Lincoln EVs.

It will create about 5,000 jobs. A comprehensive study, commissioned by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, projects it to grow Hardin County's population by 22,000.

Elizabethtown expects some of the county's new residents to be South Korean immigrants. In part, that's why it created the Director of South Korean Relations position, a volunteer role held by Yun.

Yun moved to Elizabethtown over 30 years ago with her husband. As an immigrant, Yun said she found joy in serving her community in various roles and promoting her Korean culture.

"That is in my blood and very natural for me," she said.

Yun said her role will include answering any questions newly-settled families may have, such as day-to-day duties.

"I love to help people, I love people, so this is my job," she said. "When they come here, if they ask me and need help finding a place, I help right way, helping find a new school."

Yun also hopes to help promote Korean culture in the community, and encourage immigrants to open businesses in Elizabethtown.

She even hopes to help Elizabethtown partner and create a sister city with South Korean city Seosan Chungcheongnam-do, which is also home to an SK plant.

"It is very similar character and southern hospitality is there, and geographically similar," Yun said. "That small town started from SK plant, they have a few plants in their town and grown from that, so I thought it was very good connection between two of us and we can connect school-to-school, city-to-city and help each other."

In the past, Yun has served as president of Kentuckiana's Korean American Association, and was part of early conversations with BlueOvalSK about why Kentucky could be a good fit for its battery plant.

"This was my dream, one of my Korean companies coming to Kentucky," Yun said. "If you come here you'll be happy, I'll help you, help you adjust here."

In her roles with different cultural outreach organizations she has helped with the Kentucky Derby Festival parade and Worldfest in Louisville.

Yun hopes with this position, she can help families acclimate, and be an example of raising a family in Kentucky.

"This is a wonderful town for raising your children," she said.

More BlueOval SK Coverage: