| Augustus Cho’s Life
I was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1958 five years after the Korean War had ended and only thirteen years after the 35 brutal years of Japanese occupation of Korea came to an end.
Post-war Seoul faced difficulties on a number of fronts: economic, political and social. Times were hard. It was a society of do-or-die. I was a product of the era. On top of this, my mother was a single parent before the term became fashionable in the modern, Western sense.
Still, due to my mother’s strength of character, her willingness to work hard, and her courage to bear up under a very difficult and abusive personal situation, she provided a life for my grandmother and me. In June of 1966, defying all odds, her application for a visa to enter the United States of America came through. There was no question that a Divine hand had played a role.
(For more detail, please go to the 'Books' link and see Great Light Will Shine).
She came to settle in Washington, D.C in June of 1966.
My mother and I were separated for almost two years. During that time, my 70-plus year old grandmother raised me, by herself, in Seoul. This was a very difficult situation for all three of us on a number of fronts, particularly the emotional aspect. Yet, we understood that this was the price we had to pay to make our future in the United States possible. It was a huge gamble because we had put all of our eggs in one basket: hope.
On July 13, 1968, I was able to join my mother when my flight landed at Dulles International Airport. That flight ended one life and began another. I went from a Third World nation to the First. It was an incredible transition.
My first schooling here in the U.S. was at Linton Hall Military School in Bristow, Virginia, a boarding school run by the Benedictine nuns. I became the first Korean/Asian cadet at the institution. Inadvertently, I had become a pioneer for my race. Knowing no English, and having no clue what was expected of me at a military school, I felt lost at first, but grew to appreciate the institution. In the end, LHMS made an indelible mark that still positively impacts my life. Themes such as honor, loyalty, patriotism, courage, love of country, respect for the flag, individual responsibility, etc. was taught and learned and internalized. Not surprisingly, with each passing year, this time become more precious to me.
My mother eventually married and we lived in Northern Virginia where I attended Glasgow Middle School in Falls Church for a semester and then Kenmore Junior High School in Arlington for three semesters. Shortly thereafter, we moved to Durham, NC to the Hardee St. Apartments off of Rt. 70. Then our quasi-family moved again to Palm Park Apartments off Leon Street. I attended Brogden Junior High School for my 9th grade year. When the school year ended, we moved to Raleigh. After I graduated from Jesse O. Sanderson High, I left home. (There were four Koreans at this school. Heretofore, I had been either the only Korean, or, at most, one of four.) Here, the important thing was that I had survived my mother’s marriage to a man who had slowly but surely choked the life out of her. He had become an albatrosses around my neck since I was twelve years old until I left for college at eighteen. Those were the longest six years of my life--but I endured.
I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill where I majored in economics. (At UNC-CH, there were a total of 8 Koreans. So, during my entire school life in the U.S., I was a “minority” student.) Afterward, I worked in marketing in Southern California and then in the garment district in Manhattan.
I enrolled at Westminster Theological Seminary located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, fulfilling my desire to serve the Kingdom of God. I was intrigued with the Biblical stories of the Old Testament, in particular, as the interaction between God and humanity was so evident. After learning more Hebrew and Greek – simultaneously - than I ever thought humanly possible, I graduated in 1990 with a Master of Divinity degree. The academic rigor of that program made my college courses a pleasure. During and after that time - 1984 to 1996 - I served the Presbyterian Church in various capacities, from youth minister, itinerant evangelist to pastor sharing the love of God and the Gospel of Christ. I not only “studied” divinity, I applied it thereafter.
I learned so much about the characteristics of humanity during this time – and in the process, about my self as well. In retrospect I realize that being in the ministry, for over a decade, is the best possible preparatory ground for principled public service. As pastor, I am used to serving the public but more importantly, leading people with honesty and integrity – not out of any other ulterior motives. Studying Reformed (Calvinistic) theology solidified my life ethos. While I always had a strong sense of moral right and wrong, the application of Christian ethics to my life’s perspective and society was clarified.
After twelve years in the ministry, it was time to focus on nurturing the needs of my family and children. My wife’s life long goal was to study law after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. I had no desire to deny her of her dreams just because she was married to me. So, to make this possible, I set aside what I was trained and educated to do and worked part time for a while. Eventually, I stopped all together because any pastor knows that there is no such a thing as a “part time ministry” as it is totally encompassing.
I learned to cook, wash, clean and raise our children while my wife went to law school in Philadelphia. During this time, I learned and grew so much in areas I never thought possible. However, being Mr. Mom, unlike Michael Keaton – who played that role in the movie of the same title - who could walk away at the end of the day when the filming ended - my role continued. Mine was a real life role, with real children. I realized many, many things during this unexpected turn in my life’s journey, specifically: 1) how difficult and demanding what is euphemistically called “women’s work” is both physically and mentally and 2) how important this role is in keeping the family together.
I have come to not only appreciate but also deeply admire all the single mothers in our society who have raised or are raising children by themselves. That is an incredible feat. If you are one of them, what you are doing is truly heroic. I applaud you for your courage, strength, sacrifice and perseverance. You are the soul of our nation. I know that.
While my wife was practicing law, I started a “By Invitation Only” Tae Kwon Do school designed specifically to address the over-commercialization of the discipline and to bring back traditional martial arts values at all levels. Because I’ve always had a keen interest in martial arts, I was dissatisfied and disillusioned with the compromising of the discipline.
As an alternative, to bring the discipline back to its historical roots, I began Cho’s Tae Kwon Do. This was a program motivated solely on the principle that Tae Kwon Do was founded on, not commercial gain. I began small with only three students. In the process, I met wonderful people and families. All of us who became part of our do-jang (school) experienced life-transforming times by valuing, learning and training in the Korean martial art as it was meant to be.
As the head instructor, I taught that overcoming challenges by dedicated preparation and practices, led to overall mental toughness. With each subsequent belt, the students learned and developed the warrior state of mind by sparring - and later by breaking boards - during every class, learning to control their strengths, knowledge and abilities to the point where facing conflict with calmness became second nature. For the children of Cho’s Tae Kwon Do, the instructors were taught to teach and instill the simple, yet important, lesson of self-control leading to self-discipline, which resulted in self-respect.
In August 2002, after living 34 continuous years in the States, an opportunity arose for my family to move overseas to Korea. There, I became an instructor for one of the colleges within the U.S. Department of Defense, teaching our men & women in uniform. The jurisdiction encompassed the entire Pacific Rim.
Serving our nation by teaching our men and women in uniform was a tremendous experience and personally very gratifying as it allowed me to see our Armed Forces from the inside out. Seeing our Department of Defense operate is impressive. As huge as it is, its operation is phenomenal, once again reinforcing my appreciation for the United States of America. There is no other nation on earth that can even come close to what we are doing - or is capable of doing - around the world.
Observing the USFK (United State Forces, Korea) from within confirmed for me that we not only have unquestionable military superiority but even more important, the right morals that go with it. We are the only ones who refrain from using our incredible arsenal and that is based solely on our historical moral values. This speaks volumes about who we are as a people and culture.
Still, our soldiers train faithfully and constantly to prepare for a potential war that could come to protect a democracy in Asia. Unlike other nations, our armed forces have the highest professional standard in requiring a progressive level of education to be part of our world-class military force.
What is emotionally touching is to see our young 18 and 19-year-old young men and women serving overseas, far, far away from home. Knowing that only a few months back, there were in high schools across our vast land, coming home to dinner cooked by their moms. Now, they are in South Korea, wearing the uniform of our proud nation, serving with dedication and the knowledge that, if necessary, they will make the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. For me it was a sobering realization. We have a lot to be proud of in our young people.
Living overseas was the best lesson for me in bringing to focus what the United States of America means to me. I made a vow to myself then: when I returned to the USA, I would no longer complain about what little – in comparison to other parts of the world - is wrong with our society. Instead, I’d get involved and make a positive difference. I held fast to that when my son, daughter and I returned to Chapel Hill, exactly a quarter century after I had left with my college degree. I had come a full circle in twenty-five years. I had left Chapel Hill a young man and returned as middle aged one. When I left, I was a bachelor; I returned as a father of two. Then, Korean/Asians were rare…now there were everywhere. A lot had changed in a quarter of a century.
As soon as possible, I looked into the Town of Chapel Hill’s various boards and commissions to volunteer my service to our community. The Transportation Board accepted my application. I am presently into my second year of a three-year Town Council appointment. In the meantime, I have also served on the Town of Chapel Hill’s Downtown Parking Lot Committee, studying how the parking situation impacts the local business on Franklin Street. Most recently, I represented the Transportation Board on the Northern Area Task Force, a committee formed by the Mayor to study the possible growth plans for Northern Chapel Hill.
Furthering my desire to make a difference, I contacted the local Republican Party to offer my service. Several months after the initial meeting, I had the honor of being nominated as Chairman of the County Party at the convention. In doing so, the Orange County Republican Party made history: I was the first Korean/Asian-American to be elected Chairman of a North Carolina county party. Since then, our party has never looked back. We are too busy working together, fundraising, having fun and otherwise increasing our visibility in Orange County. We have become a force to reckon with in our community. Personally, I love being a Republican in Orange County. Being a numerical minority is nothing new for me. However, being a political one here is especially meaningful because we are like the Old Testament’s remnant of the Tribe of Israel.
On a personal note, I always had several books within me. So I began to write books and columns. At this point, I’ve written five books with the sixth one coming. I have about seven books still left in me, including a historical fiction. I was invited by the Chapel Hill News to submit articles as a contributing correspondent. For this, I’ve written regularly scheduled columns, which I have enjoyed writing over the past months.
The story of my life has been about overcoming difficult challenges and obstacles of various kinds. I am used to such. It is also about not tolerating wrongs in life. Yet, here, I see an individual who usurps the integrity of a Congressional seat for personal gain instead of serving the people of the district he was elected to represent, so I stand to correct that wrong.
I am ready to take on my opponent who has been in Congress for two decades, without any meaningful accomplishment. Unlike the incumbent, I will promise you one thing: I will represent our district and not other nations, high paying lobbyists or Congressional leaders. I will protect and represent our communities. I am also tired of misguided “professional politicians” who - either deliberately or even in ignorance - trash our great nation. Enough.
I am not a politician nor have any desire to be…
I invite all Americans in our district who share the greatness of America to join me. My life has been about reaching out to people of all backgrounds and nationalities and bringing them together to strengthen our nation, one individual at a time. I welcome your support if you believe and desire a BETTER and a STRONGER AMERICA by unifying our hearts and minds. This is why I have declared my candidacy to be the next Congressman from the 4th District of North Carolina.
Join me and let’s give our children a future they can look forward to…
In the meantime, please keep our men and women in uniform who are serving our nation around the world in your prayers.
Thank you and God bless…
With Strength & Honor,
AUGUSTUS CHO
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