KOREAN CHOIR TRIGGERS MEMORIES.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - For the Rev. Brandon Cho, meeting and listening to a choir of children from South Korea perform at his church on Sunday was an emotional experience that transported him back to the land of his birth.

The 37 members of the children's Choir of the Christian Broadcasting System who are between the ages of 11 and 15 got a standing ovation for hymns in English, Latin and Italian at the United Methodist Church service on Sunday morning.

``I was about their age when I came to the United States, and I can relate to their experiences, and I got a little teary because it brings back memories of my childhood,'' said Cho, senior pastor of the church on Erringer Road for the past four years.

``And I think the sense of close cooperation between Korea and the U.S. was very well felt by the community. It's another confirmation that music is the universal language.''

The choir is part of a group of about 60 parents, children and officials from Seoul, the capital of South Korea, on their first visit to the United States.

Sunday marked the fourth day of a busy 10-day trip for the group, with performances in Van Nuys Korean United Methodist Church, San Francisco and even Disneyland, punctuated by sightseeing trips to Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, Universal Studios and other California landmarks.

Through interpreter Alex Lee from Van Nuys Korean United Methodist Church, choir director Park Yongki said the choir was enjoying the tour.

``They are very happy to be in the United States,'' Park said. ``Everyone wants to learn (about) American and Christian culture. We would like to come back again.''

And that sentiment was echoed by many of those attending the service.

``I think they were wonderful,'' said Joy Bunya, a member of the congregation since 1985 who is home on vacation from Malaysia, where she and her husband work.

``It was very moving, especially the soloist. I think it's a great opportunity for the children to share their culture and music from the opposite side of the world,'' she said.

The church, which was founded in 1889, has 750 members from a wide variety of backgrounds, including African-Americans, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, Indians and Latinos, officials said.

And the church puts a strong emphasis on music and its ministry for youngsters, with a children's choir that has 20-25 members and a youth choir with 15-20 members.

A prominently displayed banner near the front of the church proclaims: ``He who sings prays twice.''

Cho said he would like to have the Korean children back again and set up an exchange system so that the church's young choir members can visit Korea as well.

``Several members as they went out of the sanctuary expressed their thanks for the experience,'' Cho said.

``Many said, bring them back next year. And I said, you bet!'' he added.

``I think this would be a wonderful thing to do since we all live in this increasingly multicultural, multiethnic community.''

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(1 -- 2 -- color -- ran in Conejo edition only) Members of the children's Choir of the Christian Broadcasting System perform hymns in English, Latin and Italian at the United Methodist Church service in Simi Valley on Sunday morning. The 37 choir members, ages 11 to 15, received a standing ovation from the congregants. The choir is part of a group of about 60 parents, children and officials from Seoul, the capital of South Korea, on their first visit to the United States.

Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News