April 17, 2015
Scott Fisher is a professor of Korean/English translation who has spent much of his adult life living in Korea and the Middle East. He has a degree in Asian Studies from Univ. of Michigan, a MA in International Security Studies from Georgetown, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Global Affairs at Rutgers. He worked as an Asia specialist for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, and served with the U.S. Department of Defense in Baghdad. He is the author of two books: “Axis of Evil World Tour” and “Work Hard for the Kims.” As an officer with the US Army Reserves, he recently returned from a six-month tour in Afghanistan. He is also a member of the Leonia Volunteer Fire Department. He and his wife Marisa have lived in Leonia for three years.
Where were you raised?
I grew up with my parents and two brothers in Adrian, Michigan, a small farm community near Ann Arbor. My dad was an engineer, but came from a long line of Pennsylvania Dutch farmers. My mother’s ancestors, the Scott’s, lived in colonial Williamsburg; the restored blacksmith shop there was theirs. I’m named after them.
What did you aspire to be?
From a young age, I wanted to see the world. As a family, the only out-of-the-country travel we did was to Windsor, Canada. My maternal grandmother often said, “Let’s go exploring” and we’d walk all around the farm and fields. She planted the seed for me to explore the world. My first book is dedicated to her.
Where was your first solo travel?
A few days after graduating from college, I hopped on a plane headed for Seoul, Korea to teach English. I had replied to an ad which noted “We Pay Airfare.” I didn’t know a word of Korean.
What was Korea like in 1992?
It was poor and undeveloped–a dictatorship and very provincial. The few foreigners there were military and an occasional tourist. I lived there on and off for fifteen years, living in a section of town near the American Embassy. It was very international and work was fun.
How did you learn Korean?
Korean is a Level 4 language, one of the hardest to learn. I thought I’d master a few easy words first, like “Hi” and “Thanks.” ‘Hi’ was ‘An-yong-ha-say-yo’ and ‘thanks’ was ‘Kam-sa-hap-ni-da.’ Besides the new alphabet and long words, there are so many levels of politeness/respect built into the Korean language–to your boss, spouse, child, parent. Most Koreans were just happy I made the effort.
How long did it take to become an English/Korean translator?
By pure dumb luck, my Seoul employer was next to the Korean Language Institute, and I spent five years studying and immersing myself in the language, eventually earning a Masters degree in Korean Studies from Seoul National University. It also helped that I got a job on EBS (Korea’s version of PBS) live morning call-in radio program to help Koreans learn English. My co-host was a Korean woman, so hearing the questions translated into English and my answers translated into Korean really helped my listening and speaking skills. The program was a new concept and was very popular; it won a Korean version of a daytime Emmy award. Later, I worked for a national Korean television station, where they filmed me visiting traditional villages and asking questions about Korean customs. I became a “celebrity” and people often asked for my autograph.
Where have you traveled outside Seoul?
I traveled the entire country of Korea by motorcycle, from the DMZ up north to the southern island of Jejudo. Motorcycles are primarily driven by kids making deliveries, not professors on vacation. With the exception of Burma, I’ve visited every country in Asia. I loved diving in the Philippines.
What type of work did you do with the DOD in Iraq?
While working at the Pentagon as an Asian advisor, my boss asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to go to Iraq. I did. By the end of the day, I was on the list to go. I was part of an Iraqi survey group in charge of finding weapons of mass destruction. It was the tail end of the investigation; the final report was already underway.
How did you gain access to North Korea?
When South Korea was hosting the World Cup in 2002, North Korea held a “competitive” Arirang Festival to honor the late Kim-il Sung’s 90th birthday. Visas for Americans were rare, but they made a few available at that time, and I was able
to sign up for a 4-day tour. It was both fascinating and disturbing, and still haunts me. There were no buses or trains, a mandatory midnight curfew, and few restaurants. My second book is about the propaganda posters in North Korea. I hope to use it as a textbook for a class I will eventually teach on U.S. security interests in the North Pacific.
What inspired you write your books?
I had already visited two “Axis of Evil” countries, Iraq and North Korea, when I thought of writing the first one. I applied for an Iranian visa while living in Seoul, and after much time, was accepted. I took a three-week guided tour and visited almost every area of the country. I almost got arrested twice, once for taking a photo of the former U.S. Embassy. I took all my notes in Korean. My book received media attention from the Wall Street Journal, NPR and USA Today.
When did you join the Army Reserves?
In 2009, I enlisted as a Reserve Officer candidate, at the age of 39. Every generation in my family has served in the military; I wanted to do my part. I was deathly afraid of basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, alongside 17-year olds. I pushed myself to be physically prepared; I did a 10-mile march in full gear on my 40th birthday. After graduation, I headed to Georgia for Officer Candidate School. That was truly grueling, both mentally and physically. I then went back to my reserve unit in Washington DC, and worked at Georgetown U as a Korean translator and on a government-funded international health research project. On the latter assignment, I made the call that North Korea had cases of swine flu. While my Leonia house was being renovated, I was deployed for six months, just south of Kabul, Afghanistan, as chief of information operations.
How did you meet your wife?
We met at my 20th high school reunion in Michigan. My best friend was coming, and his wife insisted on bringing a friend to keep her company. The friend was Marisa, who was brought up on Oakdene Avenue in Palisades Park. I spent the entire reunion talking to her instead of high school friends. We kept in touch, and I flew out to visit her in 2008. She had mentioned there were some Korean restaurants in town, but I was stunned by the extent of Korean culture in Palisades Park; I felt right at home. We were married at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Ridgefield in 2010.
Why did you choose Leonia?
We liked the older homes, small town atmosphere, the downtown ambiance, and the trees. It reminded me of my home in Michigan, and it was near Marisa’s family. Shortly after we moved here, I saw a notice in Leonia Life newspaper that said the Fire Department was recruiting. I signed up and have really enjoyed the experience. I am the de facto Korean translator.
What’s a favorite date night in Leonia?
Marisa and I love Dante’s, and always order the special. If there’s a fire call during dinner, I can just run across the street. On my last date night before I deployed to Afghanistan, fellow firemen told Dante I was leaving. Our dinner was on the house, and Dante and his wife wished me well. And we love eating in Leonia’s Korean restaurants.
What’s your favorite Korean dish?
It’s a soup/stew called Boo-dae-chigae, historically a peasant gruel made with vegetables and SPAM meat. SPAM was introduced by the American military, and is very popular in Korea. I love all Korean food; the Korean dishes served in Leonia are totally authentic.
What would you eventually love to do?
I am a born teacher. I would love to be a Professor of International Relations/Foreign Policy.
What advice would you give a recent college graduate looking for work? The world is a big interesting place. Dive in!
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