By Joo Han Kang

SAN FRANCISCO I was 15 years old when I learned to ride a bicycle.

In those days, in Korea, people used to say, ?n the sky, Ahn Chang Nam (the first Korean pilot), and on land, Om Poktong (the fastest bicycle rider in Korea).

Bicycle riding was quite popular, but unfortunately for an average boy like me bikes were not readily available.

So whenever I saw people ride a bike, I envied them and thought how nice it would be to have one myself. Sometimes I rode a bike in my dreams. And in my dreams, I wondered how I could ride a bike with such ease when I had never learned to ride it.

One summer afternoon, when dragon flies were flying back and forth in my yard, a visitor came to my house. It was little Ingi, a Sunday school friend of mine, who was a year younger than I.

Ingi knew I was eager to learn to ride a bike. He had borrowed a big bike from a friend of his father, and had come to my house, dragging the big machine. Ingi said he wanted to teach me how to ride it. Naturally I was overjoyed.

Ingi told me to sit on the saddle and step on the pedals. I followed his direction. As soon as the bike began to move, however, I found myself on the ground with scratches on my legs. Still, my friend kept encouraging me to try again and again.

Many times, both Ingi and I fell into a ditch by the roadside together with the bike, but Ingi was a patient boy.

He got up immediately, pulled the bike out of the ditch, then pulled me from under the bike. I saw streaks of blood on my scratched legs, but Ingi relentlessly urged me to keep at it, by pushing me from behind.

Finally, I could go 100 yards or so without falling. All the time, Ingi ran from behind and caught the bike before it fell.

It took a good half an hour before I could manage the machine for 200 or 300 yards, then make a U-turn and return to the point where I started.

I cannot forget how happy I was at that moment. I thought I was dreaming. It seemed that Ingi was even happier to see me ride a bike, for he was telling passersby to look at me and how well I was doing.

When Ingi finished his instructions, I was so grateful to my friend that I picked apricots from our orchard and stuffed his four pockets with the fruit.

Being a boy always ready to help others. Ingi rented a bike and came to my home a few more times to complete his instructions.

Finally, I was able to ride a bike without help. After that I often rented a bike or borrowed one to ride.

I have not been on a bike for decades now, even though we have had bikes at home.

Still, I cannot forget the wonderful feeling that sheer joy I felt when I could manage a bike by myself.

I have not seen Ingi for over half a century, but I cannot forget him either. What enthusiasm he had. How willing he was always to give a helping hand to others.

The world could use many many Ingis. Wherever he is, I hope he is happy, and that his abundant enthusiasm and warmth have made his a rewarding life.

Joo Han Kang, who ran a business in San Francisco, previously taught English at the Seoul National University and German in other institutions in Korea. He died in May 1998.