Kim,+Peter+SamuelKWP

Korean War Oral History Project

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 * Questions**

1. When were you, and what were you doing at the moment the 6.25 war started? 2. Do you remember the situation of your family, friends, and relatives at the moment of 6.25 war? 3. Could you please tell me what kinds of impacts the war had on you? 4. What thoughts do you have about President Syngman Rhee? 5. During the beginning of the war, the Americans joined, and the Russians joined in. So whose fault do you think the war was? 6. While you were on evacuation, and during all the chaotic moments of the war, do you remember any encounters with the soldiers? 7. What do you think would have happened to South Korea if there weren't any foreign aid? 8. Since the division of Korea, few decades passed. Do you think that DPRK and ROK are still one? Or do you think that the long period of division brought too much change, so we're not one anymore? 9. So even at this point of division and argument, do you think there is any potential of unification? 10. After Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Eun came to power. Do you think there will be and changes between the relationship of DPRK and ROK? Or any new stuff emerging?

Reflection I always thought my grandparents as an old, peaceful couple spending their lives at the country side of Korea. I've met them several times during Chuseok or New Year, but all the conversation we had were always the same, old, typical cliches: hows school life, are you getting good grades, hows your health, etc.... I think it was my first time ever to have a serious conversation with them, about an important topic. I never knew that my grandmother was pretty involved in the Korean War. I was shocked at the fact that if she couldn't have rode the last train leaving Seoul, I would have never been born. All I knew about her was that she is pretty old and she is a famous poet/writer. After this interview, my point of view towards my grandparents, especially my grandmother, change a lot. My great grandfather was a member of the independent army! That is some honorable, gallant blood flowing in my veins.

Through out the interview, she seemed a bit sensitive about the details of the war itself and its grotesqueness. I felt the nuance of avoiding some bits that might not be the best things to remember from the past. But she informed me of quite few interesting facts too. I was pretty amazed at the fact that women dressed up as men to avoid any sexual harassment from the foreign soldiers. I guess war makes everyone brutal and senseless.

I also found it interesting that my grandmother was complimenting Lee Seung Man. According to what I learned from class, and Korean schools, he wasn't a role model leader, nor a great president. I thought him as an ambitious man greedy only for his power and his safety. I agree that it was him who called for international help for Korea, but in the past he tried to sell off Korea to the League of Nations. There are lots more, but just at the fact that there are quite a few dark moments of Lee Seung Man's life says a lot about his reputation. However, I was amazed at my grandmother's praise towards him.

It was a great time having a good interview with her, and I definitely learned a lot about both my family, and the Korean War. This interview would be important for understanding of the war as a perspective of a refugee, rather than the perspective of an outsider of the war.