Name: Chihyung Cho (Tony Cho)
Home Country: South Korea
Industry: Creative Director of Tonyís Beauty Sdn.Bhd. (hair salon)
Marital Status/Number of children: Married with one son
Other Countries you have lived: China for seven months

What brought you to Malaysia?
I came here on June 2008, so it has been more than four years since I came. I would like to settle down and live in Malaysia. I'm planning to live here for more than 20 years and I will work hard to make the dream come true.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came?
When I heard about Malaysia from an acquaintance, I just guessed it would be a country in Southeast Asia with dense jungle. I got some information about Malaysia from the internet, though the information is limited, and got the strong impression that it was attractive and remarkable.

What were your impressions of Malaysia upon arrival?
It was fantastic when I landed in KL's airport. I won't forget the gentle smile that the immigration examiner gave me. Just by looking at him I knew that Malaysians were warm and kind. I had heard that if one see the road condition of a country, one can find out about the industrial base of that nation and I was once again surprised to see how well the roads are maintained. I can't express the feelings I had when I saw the beautiful and magnificent Twin Towers, and the fact that one was constructed by Koreans made me feel deeply emotional.

How easily did you adapt to living in a new country?
It may sound untrue but it was needless to adapt to this country; I felt natural, comfortable, and I quickly become one of them. The people didn't alienate or marginalize me for being a foreigner but showed kindness and care that made me comfortable in this country. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

What are the three things you like most about living in Malaysia?
I like that Malaysian citizens are caring and kind. As a father, I like the fact that my child can study various languages (Korean, Malay, Mandarin, English, etc.) and play with international friends. I like the way people respect the culture of Korea, and admire and enjoy many modern cultures.

What do you like to do at the weekend?
It's been four years so far that I have lived in Malaysia and I only look ahead for my future. In order to do that, I have to work every day, but in the near future, I would like to learn to scuba dive and horse ride.

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