林泰相：重庆，我的第二故乡

贺煜

Lim Teasang， a Korean living in Chongqing， speaks highly of the city in an interview in the middle of January. He said “I have lived in Chongqing for four years， and have visited many fascinating and impressive places such as Jinfo Mountain and Fairy Mountain. The magnificence of the Three Gorges is even more breath-taking. Chongqing lives up to its reputation as A Land of Natural Beauty， A City with Cultural Appeal. Lim Teasang expressed that he will recommend this charming city to more foreign friends.

“Chongqing， my second hometown”

Lim Teasang’s hometown， Busan in the Republic of Korea， has established a friendly cooperation tie with Chongqing， and personally he tied the knot with a Chongqing lady. He served as the Secretary-General of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Chongqing and now works for a Korean automation equipment company in China.

Lim Teasang came to China in 2015 and studied at Soochow University where he met his wife. They got married in 2017 and settled in Chongqing. He felt at home when he arrived Chongqing for the first time as Chongqing boasts picturesque landscape and friendly people with great hospitality.

“Chongqing is a heaven of delicacies. The spicy flavor could be found in every corner of the city.” Lim Teasang said that he loves Chongqing noodles， especially noodles with mince and peas. “Hi， noodles with mince and peas， a fried egg and soup please.” Every morning he orders breakfast using fluent Chinese in a noodle restaurant.

Lim Teasang said that working and living in Chongqing for four years was a lovely experience， and a lot of meaningful activities were done. During his tenure as Secretary-General of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Chongqing， he was committed to promoting economic and trade exchanges between Chongqing and the Republic of Korea. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19， he has contacted the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government for many times to help Koreans to return to Chongqing and resume work and production.

“Chongqing has become my second hometown.” Lim Teasang said， “I have my family here. In addition， the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea locates in the city. Chongqing and Busan have established a friendly cooperation relation in 2010...” All these special bonds make him felt at home.

“Chongqing， a unique city with growing strength”

As a witness to the opening-up and development of Chongqing， Lim Teasang experienced Chongqing’s changes of emerging into a well-known metropolis of China.

In his view， with the development of the Internet and the growth of the sharing economy， Chongqing’s charming scenery， delicious food， and magical terrain have been widely circulated on the Internet. Tourism has become popular， bringing the economic benefits to all walks of life.

“Chongqing is a unique city with growing strength，” Lim Teasang said. Apart from popular tourism industry， the industrial and manufacturing development in Chongqing is also very impressive. Chongqing has the largest automobile production base in China， with many vehicles production lines， as well as components and accessories companies.

Lim Teasang informs that the Koreans’ understanding about Chongqing is quite limited. Hot pot was very popular in Korea a few years ago， but Koreans did not know it was originated from Chongqing. He wishes Chongqing to increase its efforts on publicity to build its international reputation so that a larger foreign community knows Chongqing， understands Chongqing and comes to visit Chongqing， thus to find out the birthplace of hot pot.

“Recommending the tourism of Chongqing to more foreigners”

“Chongqing boasts many scenic spots， a reason to fall in love with it.” Lim Teasang said that he loves traveling and has left his footprints in many famous scenic spots in Chongqing. “Many places deserves recommendation， and the most distinctive one is the Three Gorges along Yangtze River.”

During the “May Day” holiday in 2019， Lim Teasang drove his family to the Three Gorges. In Baidi Fortress of Fengjie County， they enjoyed the majestic and magnificent Kuimen （Qutang Gorge）， and also went to Wushan County to climb mountains for a bird view of the Three Gorges.

“Upon returning to Chongqing proper， I visited the Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing to learn more about the history and changes of the Three Gorges. I can’t wait to tell my friends that the Three Gorges is a must-visit in one’s life.” Lim Teasang hopes Chongqing to actively promote its scenic spots like the Three Gorges to the Republic of Korea so that more visitors will be attracted to experience the local customs and the charisma of Chongqing.

Photo/the interviewee

“我來重庆已经4年了，去过很多美丽的地方，金佛山、仙女山等都给我留下深刻印象，三峡更是雄伟壮观，重庆是名副其实的山水之城、美丽之地！”1月中旬，在渝生活的韩国友人林泰相在接受记者采访时盛赞重庆。他表示，要向更多外国朋友推介重庆这座美丽的城市。

“重庆是我的第二故乡”

林泰相的家乡是重庆的友好合作城市韩国釜山，他也是一位“重庆女婿”。2020年他曾担任重庆韩国商会秘书长，现就职于一家在华韩国自动化设备公司。

2015年，林泰相来到中国苏州大学留学，在那里结识了现在的妻子。2017年，他们结婚并来到重庆定居。林泰相说，初到重庆之时，就有一种回家的感觉，重庆和釜山一样，都有优美的自然风光，市民热情友好。

“重庆是美食之都，处处充满麻辣味。”林泰相说，他最爱重庆小面，尤其是豌杂面。早上，他习惯来到小面店，熟练地用中文点餐：“老板，二两豌杂，加煎蛋、加汤。”

林泰相表示，在重庆工作生活的这4年非常美好，做了很多有意义的事情。包括在担任重庆韩国商会秘书长期间，致力于推动重庆和韩国的经贸往来。新冠肺炎疫情发生以来，他还多次与重庆市政府外办对接，帮助韩国人顺利返渝复工复产。

“如今，重庆已然成了我的第二故乡。”林泰相说，“这里有我的家人，还有大韩民国临时政府旧址，重庆和釜山2010年建立了友好合作城市关系……”这些都让他备感亲切。

“重庆是中国独具特色且实力强劲的城市”

作为重庆开放发展的亲历者，林泰相最大的感受是重庆变成了一座全国知名城市。

在他看来，随着互联网的发展，共享经济壮大，重庆的美景、美食、魔幻地形在网络上广泛传播，观光旅游业随之火爆，带动了各行各业的经济效益。

“重庆可以称得上是中国比较有特色、实力强劲的城市之一。”林泰相说，除了热门的旅游业，重庆的工业、制造业发展也非常可观。重庆有中国最大的汽车生产基地，有众多整车生产线和零部件、配件公司。

林泰相说，目前韩国民众对重庆的了解还很有限。前几年，韩国很流行麻辣烫火锅，但他们并不清楚火锅的发源地在重庆。他表示，重庆应该加大对外宣传力度，持续扩大国际知名度，让更多外国人知道重庆、了解重庆、来到重庆。也让全世界都知道重庆是火锅的故乡。

“要向更多外国朋友推介重庆旅游”

“重庆景点众多，这也是我喜欢重庆的原因之一。”林泰相说，他酷爱旅游，重庆很多著名景点都曾留下他的足迹，“这些地方都很值得推荐，但最具特色的还是长江三峡。”

2019年“五一”假期，林泰相带家人自驾去了重庆境内的三峡景区。在奉节县白帝城，欣赏了夔门（瞿塘峡）巍峨壮丽的峡谷风光，还前往巫山县登山远眺三峡。

“回重庆后，我还去重庆中国三峡博物馆详细了解三峡的历史和变迁，并迫不及待地告诉朋友们，三峡是人生一定要去的地方。”林泰相说，希望重庆能在韩国大力宣传三峡这样的风景名胜，让更多人来重庆体会风土人情和山城魅力。

图片/受访者提供