Korean+War+Interview+Project+Lydia+Ahn+B+Block

=A Primary Source during the Korean War = =By: Lydia Ahn =

Interview media type="youtube" key="ie-0myYrC8g" height="344" width="425" media type="youtube" key="6bEPUAqW6jk" height="344" width="425" media type="youtube" key="h2MS09GMT5w" height="344" width="425" media type="youtube" key="kwX1xABG4qc" height="344" width="425"

Summary of the Interview media type="file" key="korean war project.mp3"

=Questions= 1. What is your name, age, and what were your jobs? Where were you born and raised? How old were you when the Korean war occurred? 2. What was your life like before the war (including your family status, education, and wealth)? 3. During the war, how was your education and schooling? How did the war impact your studies? 4. How was your family members affected by the war? How did you maintain contact with them? 5. Where were you living during the time of the war? What are some of tragic events that happened there? 6. How did your daily routine change? How did the war affect it? 7. What was the most impacting event that you observed during the war or that you experienced? How did this affect your view towards the war? 8. How did the war affect your view on Communism and Democracy? 9. What is your opinion on the 38th parallel? What are your feelings upon this decision? 10. How did you get food and how difficult was it obtaining it? Describe your shelter and food resources. Did you ever have to migrate and why? 11. How did the war affect your personality and your view towards America and the Soviet Union? How did your view towards Rhee and Kim Ilsung? 12. What relationships (friend and family) were crushed because of the war? Explain. 13. What was the aftermath of the war (physically)? What did you do after the war? 14. What are your views about reunification? 15. Is there anything I haven't asked about that you think I would like to know?

Analysis Questions

1) How does your interviewee's testimony fit in with what you have learned about the experience of civilians?

Both of my grandpa's clearly explained how civilians were affected during the Korean war in every possible way. Although they both didn't physically suffer because of their location during the Korean War, they still had many other sufferings that they experienced. Food was definitely one of their biggest issue, since obtaining it was suddenly so drastic and difficult. For my dad's dad, his schooling life was particularly difficult, which we learned within class. They both also stated that American officers and the military were everywhere, always checking their houses and trying to protect their country's citizens from any danger that could have arisen. Since they both didn't go through much suffering, they stated what they saw from others: evacuating out of their houses from Seoul and walking down all the way to Daejgu, where it was safe and the war hadn't come down to. They saw people eating grass and mixing it with other cheap foods in order to survive. We can clearly see it was difficult for everyone and someway or another, almost everyone was impacted by it.

2) Using your background knowledge try to contextualize their testimony. How do you think major events of the war affected their life at the time?

The Korean War definitely affected everyone's lives during that time period. Although they didn't physically get affected, they had to deal with the aftermaths that came during their lifetime. My mom's dad especially had a difficult time obtaining food. He stated that there was no free time, where he could enjoy the freedom, although he was only sixteen years of age. He exclaimed that he had to go to school and just come back home, trying to raise money in every which way possible. My dad's dad on the other hand, was affected mostly in their economic and education status. He stated that although they were one of the richest families in town, they lost almost all their money, and earning money was one of the most difficult things they had to experience. Also, his education was clearly impacted. Before, he was just going to regular school, but after the war started, he had to separate from his family during the weekdays, going to a small village school in the country. He had to walk there alone, and study by himself five days a week.

3) Hypothesize or explain how you interviewee was able to stay out of danger.

My interviewee's were both able to stay out of danger because they lived at Daegu, where the war had not come down too. They were not affected by the war physically at all, and didn't observe any crime scene in the war. They both just made sure they kept their profile low, and just went to school and came back, unless they were trying to raise money for the family. However, they did still suffer in many other ways, but they were both fortunate enough that they were in the right place at the right time. Although it was evident other civilians had to suffer with experiencing family and friend losses, it was lucky for both of my grandparents to avoid any danger and stay in contact with their family.

Essay

Lydia Ahn 5/14/09   Asian Studies B Block __ Essay __ Many do not know what underlies beneath the textbooks of the Korean War. They know a brief description of the factual points and what had happened. However, they do not understand the historical significance and the sufferings the Korean civilians went through. Thus, these two interviews with both my grandpa’s exemplify what actually happened during the Korean War—in a primary sources’ perspective. Textbooks and news articles may be contradictory and bias; however, from a victim’s point of view, one can clearly analyze what was actually occurring during that time period. By listening to what they had to say, we can see what was happening and pass it on generation by generation, telling the truth without any lies nor bias. Not only do they tell the story in a more engaging point of view, they express their emotions, and how difficult it was for them to live. We can relate to their perspective more clearly through their words, while in a textbook, it’s just a jumble of words in which we cannot feel the author’s emotion. Thus, it is crucial for understanding my interview with my grandparents and is kept, for it tells us what actually occurred during the Korean War. This interview definitely helped me understand my perspective on the Korean War, because it showed us the eyes of real civilians. When my grandparents talked about how their lives were affected through food and education sources, it helped me visualize the aftermaths of the war. Not only stating what happened, they thoroughly emphasized their emotions, helping me show what Korea had gone through. Also, they were lucky to be living at Daegu, the only place where the war had not come down. It was difficult for me to cope with the fact that others had gone through was far worse. It will not only help understand my perspective on the war by showing that everyone had some kind of loss, it will also help others realize that this war is a war not to be forgotten. It was not just a civil war, it was a war that involved the United States, China, and the U.N. This could have not only stirred up World War 3, many innocent civilians lost many of their lives or possessions. Through both of these interviewee’s, one can hypothesize what the Korean War was like, since both my grandparents didn’t suffer as much for they location and high positions. Despite the fact that they didn’t lose their possessions, these interviews will show a better perspective on the war through their experiences.