Kim,+HanminBlockD

Family Historian Project : Grandfather

__Recount of an Event__ My grandfather’s name is Wan-Sang Han. He is the former president of the korean Red Cross and former deputy prim minister. My Grandfather was born in 1936 during Japanese Imperialism. My grandfather was not allowed to use his Korean family name nor speak Korean in schools. Korea regain their freedom from Japanese rule on August 15, 1945; however Korean people were divided against their will by decision making of the superpowers.

My grandfather went through Japanese Imperialism as a high school student. The effect of war was leading to the political corruption. When my grandfather was graduation from high school, he thought much about what he should major and what he should become. Since he saw the pain of many Korean people he wanted to choose a profession that helps relieve suffering. My great grandfather wanted him to be a medical doctor and my great grandmother as a Christian, wanted him to be a pastor. In 1954, he heard about Albert Schweitzer who won the Nobel Peace Prize for saving many lives in Africa. He read about his book and realized something about a social doctor. Then he decided to major a sociology and applied to the sociology program at Seoul National University.

In 1962, he went to America to study sociology in Emory University. During these time, America was experiencing many remarkable social transformations. They are The Civil Rights Movement, the difusion of the New Left and counter-culture, and thee Anti-War movement. He found that both Korea and America was suffering from social illnesses.

In 1970, he went back to Seoul National University to take a professorship in sociology. In 1970s, Korea was in a dark sate of military oppression under President park. Many schools were being a cruel battlefield and protests were all around the streets. That was when he wrote a very famous book in Korea called The Minjung and Intellectuals. Since the book was partially criticizing on how the government should change, he was expelled from his university and went to prison. In the late Fall of 1980, my grandfather was released and Dixie Walker, American Ambassador told him to come to USA and come to Emory as a visiting professor.

Then later in 1984, my grandfather’s position at Seoul National University was regained. And in 1992, by the offer of Kim Young Sam, former Korean president, he became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Reunification.

Because of these pains my grandfather went through and how he could not take care of my mother well, my mother lived in America with my grandmother and her sisters. That also affected me on how I study in English and the lessons from the family.

__ Picture of Source (Artifact) __

__ Brief Description of Source __ This is the book called //The Minjung and Intellectuals// written by my grandfather. The book was generally saying how intellectuals should step up and try to change the world especially the Korean government under the military dictatorship.

__ Source Type __ Primary Source

__ Short explanation of the source’s significance to the event __ This is the first book my grandfather wrote in America and which later led my grandfather to be imprisoned. My grandfather strongly felt the government system is wrong and wrote this book. This book became highly effective to the Student Democracy Movement.

__ Picture of Source (Written Source) __

__ Brief Description of Source __ This is the written speech of my grandfather when he was invited to Emory 2 years ago. The speech is called 'A Peace-Making Pilgrimage in a Divided Korea'.

__ Source Type __ Primary Source

__ Short explanation of the source’s significance to the event __ This speech basically and briefly talk about my grandfather's background and what he have been through. The main point of this speech is about how Korea ended up getting divided and what should we, global leaders, do to change the world. The significance of this source is that this is the speech he prepared because Emory has asked him to come to Emory and give a speech. This tells how influential he actually was in both Korea and in Emory University.

__ Interview (Grandfather & Mother) __

G = Grandfather M = Mom

Q#1: Grandfather, how was Korea like when you were young? G: It was during Japanese Imperialism. Japanese imperialism economically exploited, politically oppressed and socially discriminated against the Korean people. Korean language was ruthlessly decimated. I was not allowed to use my Korean family name, nor use my native tongue in the schools.

Q#2: How would you describe the life in the prison in one word? G: I would say it was like a coffin. Squeezed coffin.

Q#3: How did you feel when you moved to America without father? M: I was very young, so I do not really remember how I felt. However this made me more mature and I felt responsible to take care of my little sisters.

Q#4: How is being professor and working in government different? G: The role of the professor is explaining the world but the role of the member of the government is changing the world.

Q#5: Any last message for the students? G: 'I hope therefore I am'. I want students to truly understand the meaning of this philosophy. Get a big dream!

__ Source Type __ Primary Source = Grandfather Secondary Source = My Mother

__**Roles of The Historians**__

Detective: As a detective, I needed to find evidence proving that a shift or change in history has occurred. I first needed to gather historical proof through a variety of differing sources and artifacts. I had a prior knowledge on how my grandfather was a famous politician and professor and he has gone through many interesting episodes in life. Finding source was not as hard as I expected. I remembered how my family went to Emory University last year to see my grandfather's speech. I asked my grandfather to give me a copy of the speech and that was a written primary source. I used the book that he wrote during that time as an artifact because it was very influential book that moved people's mind. I interviewed my mom about how she felt in America and to grandfather how he felt in the prison.

Interpreter: Korea was going to very dark time even when Japanese Imperialism was over. Korea has been divided into North and South and it is not wrong to say that America took some parts into it. On August 10, 1945, it was two young and inexperienced American colonels that was in charge of the task of delineating the American occupation zone. However, what happened later was mostly Korea's fault. The democracy in Korea using the military power was getting harsher and harsher. My grandfather went through all these events and that is why he wanted to be a professor of sociology and change this.

Judge: These events that my grandfather went through shifted my family's history. Since my grandfather was mostly in jail or in the trial, my mother and her sisters were living in America. It also affected our family's standard on politics. We became the democratic. We believed that there is supposed to actions in order to change the world. The reason why I am living in Korea and studying in International School would probably because of my grandfather. If my grandfather did not study in America for the college and my mother did not leave Korea to America because of the absence of her father, I would not probably learn English at all. It is a milestone in my life.

Philosopher: I should care about this event since this has changed my life. The culture I went through, and the education I am learning right now is all originated from my grandfather's life.