Former South Korean leader visits

It was a special evening at The Pines Resort when a former president of South Korea dined at Ducey’s on the Lake with the Choe family, owners of the establishment.

“This visit was a deeply meaningful experience for our family,” said Mark Choe, general manager and co-owner of the resort with parents Kyu Sun Choe and Sun Wha Choe.

The Choes have owned The Pines Resort at Bass Lake since 2010.

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in is a statesman and lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea from 2017 to 2022.

As president, Moon received international attention for his meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the inter-Korean summits in 2018. In 2019, he met with both Kim and U.S. president Donald Trump at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

During his presidency, Moon advocated for a peaceful approach to Korean reunification, raised minimum wage, lowered the maximum workweek and won praise for his handling of the Covid pandemic in South Korea.

Moon’s stop at The Pines Resort on March 10 came as part of his trip to Yosemite, Choe said, and the occasion was impactful.

“For my father, Kyu Sun, hosting the former President of South Korea was a profound, full-circle moment,” the younger Choe explained.

“Having grown up in rural, war-torn Korea in extreme poverty, coming to this country with no money and building a life that eventually led to welcoming a world leader to our family-run resort is the ultimate validation of the American Dream. It was a quiet and powerful acknowledgment of how far he has come.”

Kyu Sun Choe is a member of the Korean Political Action Committee, an organization with a mission to foster good relations between South Korea, North Korea and the U.S.

“My father’s involvement with the Korean Political Action Committee is a direct reflection of his lifelong commitment to fostering peace and strong relations between the U.S. and both Koreas,” Choe said. “Hosting the President here felt like a natural extension of that mission, showing that hospitality can serve as a bridge between cultures.”

The former president decided on the visit to Eastern Madera County after a KPAC official recommended the popular lakeside resort. The Choes were honored to have Jae-in visit.

“President Moon was incredibly gracious and seemed to truly enjoy the natural beauty of the Bass Lake area” Choe shared.

“We aimed to provide him with the same signature ‘Pines Welcome’ we strive to give every guest — great food, a warm atmosphere and a sense of being truly at home. It says a lot about the president’s character that he sought out such a peaceful, family-oriented environment like Ducey’s on the Lake to enjoy during his visit to Yosemite.”

The family said it was a true privilege to welcome the dignitary to The Pines.

“Moments like this remind us how a beautiful setting, great food and warm hospitality can bring people from around the world together.”