Syngman Rhee poses with his pet “Happy.”

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

During Syngman Rhee's stay in Hawaii (1960-1965), observers say he rarely appeared in public. But he did make some visits to an animal quarantine center though.

It was Happy, an English toy spaniel that was born at the Korean presidential office, that drew him out of the house.

According to Pyeon Jeong-hee, a mutual friend of the couple, Happy was the ``apple of the couple's eye,'' since the former President had no biological child.

It captured the hearts of Rhee and his wife. Rhee reportedly missed his pet and asked his friends to arrange for the dog to be sent to him secretly, when his ``visit'' to Hawaii got much longer than expected.

Happy was delivered to Hawaii from Korea, but had to undergo a 120-day-quarantine. Rhee was more than glad to visit Happy, his friends recalled. ``He looked cheerful and really happy,'' they said.

Happy only understood the English language as the Rhees communicated in that language and Pyeon recalled that her English wasn't good enough to communicate with the dog. She told Chosun Ilbo that it was hard for her to look after it when Rhee left the office and she had to take care of the animal for several months.

Happy was also a good friend of Gen. Lemnitzer, Commander-in-Chief Far Eastern Command and United Nations Command, who was friends with Rhee. He also took photos with the dog smiling on his lap, which he kept until till he died.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

→ Behind-the-Scenes Images of Late President Rhee