“It’s been five years.” ‘Yonsei Steve Hawking’ Shin Hyung-jin reunited with his life savior, former Commander of the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea, Leon J. Laporte, on October 20th at Marriot Hotel. Mr. Laporte got on his knees to meet the gaze of Hyung-jin, who reclines in a wheelchair due to paralysis from spinal muscular atrophy. They have not seen each other for five years, since Mr. Laporte’s retirement in 2006. Their first meet goes back to 2004. In 2004, Hyung-jin went into a coma during his visit to Los Angeles for his grandmother’s 80th birthday. U.S. doctors recommended Hyung-jin to return home and consult his specialists, but the problem was that he could not find an airplane with the medical equipment he needed to survive the flight. Upon hearing this, Commander Laporte immediately ordered a KC-10 Extender, equipped with cutting-edge medical technology, and flew to Korea with Hyung-jin. After Hyung-jin was hospitalized, Commander Laporte and his wife visited him, and they also visited Hyung-jin’s house after he left the hospital. Since then, the two have been good friends, communicating through e-mails as well. Hyung-jin wanted to treat his friend with his first salary. Since this summer, he has been working at the Yonsei Research Institute for Software Application. After their reunion lunch, Mr. Laporte presented to Hyung-jin a framed picture of himself and souvenirs from Texas. “He doesn’t believe that he has a handicap, and I respect him for carrying on with courage even greater than that of a soldier.” Mr. Laporte said.