History of the Chosun Gift
Shop
The Fundraising Arm of the American Forces' Spouses' Club
Early in 1966, a group of
ambitious military spouses started work on their dream, a gift shop
here in Korea, to bring local Korean handicrafts and gift items from
other places in the Orient to the American community stationed in
Korea. The drive was spearheaded by Mrs. L.W. Schlanser, wife of the
Chief of Staff, Eighth US Army. The ladies researched their project
as to transportation, customs, location and official regulations.
In March 1966, Mrs. James Simmerman, President of the OWC, submitted
a formal application to General Schlanser who approved the project
in principle. Official recommendations were to start a "Charity
Bazaar" for six months from July until Christmas on a trial basis.
Some Okinawan glassware and $500 served as the initial investment.
Handicrafts from the Paraplegic Village and the Vocational school
for Girls, Young Chin, were added to serve a dual purpose to
introduce Korean handicrafts to the American shoppers and to help
these institutions with the extra income.
The project was an instant success. On Saturday, September 16, 1967,
the Chosun Gift Shop held its grand opening in building 3599, a
Quonset hut across from the high school. In addition to operating
the shop in Seoul and its branch in Taegu, the ladies loaded their
merchandise into trucks and periodically visited remote sites to
enable the soldiers stationed there to do their shopping. The Taegu
shop (The Apple Tree) is now independent of the CGS and is run by
the spouses' club on Camp Walker. Today, as in the beginning, the
Chosun Gift Shop operates with the approval of the command. The
Board of Directors must meet the guidelines of the Gift Shop, Army
Regulations and polices pertaining to private organizations. The
Chosun pays its own way including utilities, all transportation of
merchandise from other countries and the delivery of goods from
ports in Korea.
On April 10, 1997, the Chosun Gift Shop burned with tremendous loss
of inventory. With thanks to many benefactors and innumerable
volunteer hours, the Chosun Gift Shop reopened in a temporary
location several weeks later. During this initial reopening a
salvage operation and inventory was conducted. The Chosun was again
relocated to another temporary location and finally opened its doors
to a newly built permanent location on May 26, 1998. The store was
rebuilt with donations and its own money. The building was then
given as a gift to the Army. The new store sits at the site of the
burned store.
The Chosun Gift Shop is operated by a paid staff of 14 and
volunteers who are members of the American Forces' Spouses' Club. It
stocks items from Japan, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the
Philippines to be carried in various departments to include: rugs,
furniture, jewelry, linens, novelties, clothing, dishes and pottery.
We no longer stock Korean made items.
Funds raised by the CGS go to the AFSC to be distributed through the
American and Korean Welfare Project Committees to American and
Korean charities throughout the country.
Page Updated: 25 May 2007