Korean+War+Interview+Project+Corie+Hahn+C+Block

by Corie Hahn  **
 * Korean War Interview - Hahn Tae Jun

 **// Interview Podcast (Including the Summary) //** **Korean War Interview (Divided into two parts)**

Korean War Part 1: Time: 10.23 Minutes. media type="file" key="4.mov" Korean War Part 2: Time: 10.16 Minutes. media type="file" key="korean war 2.mov"

**Korean War Summary**

Time: 6.41 Minutes. media type="file" key="korean war.mov"

 ===**// Interview Questions //** ===

TOTAL: __17 QUESTIONS__
- Tell us your age, name, and current occupation. - Tell us a little bit about yourself and the position you were when you were part of the war. - Why did the war break out? - How did your life change? - How did your daily routines change after the war broke out? (Or did it?) - How did you feel at the end of the war? - How was your family affected by the war? - What sort of aspects did you think about when you were fighting in the war? - What sort of breaking points or challenges did you face during the war? - What were some of the peoples' opinions of the war? - As a lieutenant, what sort of orders did you give to your soldiers? - How did these soldiers react to your orders? - What is one thing people cannot read about in the textbooks about the Korean War? - Were you nationalistic? If so, why? Did Nationalism play a role in the Korean War? - What was your school life like during the war? Your home life? - What memory really stood out from the war? - Anything else or comments you like to share about the Korean War?



**// Analysis Questions //**
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 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">1) How does your interviewee's testimony fit in with what you have learned about the experience of civilians? **

From what I've learned in class and with the packets provided, I've concluded that the lives of the civilians were typically harsh. In terms of their educational, social, and domestic life, it had been greatly impacted by the Korean War and devastated the lives of civilians. My grandfather, when he was a child, had to learn of the North Koreans and throughout this time period, he was taught that the North Koreans were 'evil' in his words, and that greatly influenced his ways of thinking about how the education system was extremely biased. Under my grandfather's nationalistic pride as a lieutenant and a general, he still acknowledged that the lives of the North Koreans were brutal as well. As a contribution to what I've learned about the experience of the civilians, my interviewee's testimony contributed tremendously as most of the issues that have been stated, has been told by the witness.


 * 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 major events of the war had affected the civilian lives in terms of their economic, social, and domestic factors. My grandfather had to go to school, learning about the North Koreans and hearing the news constantly about the war that was happening during this time period. Socially, he was worried that there was going to be some clashes between the government and the people because there was definitely problems due to the war and he didn't know what to expect out of the social issues. Domestically, his parents were constantly on the look out and they packed some of the clothes and extra food just in case, there happened to be disruptions from the government or the military and so there would be constant worry and fear in the household. In these three factors, the major events of the war affected the lives of the civilians, including my grandfather majorly.


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

Since my grandfather was a lieutenant and became a general afterward, he was trained all throughout his life and through this, he was able to achieve military precautions and he taught this to my father and passed it down to some of his younger brothers. Some of the things that my grandfather has done was to hide under some of the safe zones in which his soldiers build up and hide in there for a couple of days or so and move on so that it wouldn't be tracked anymore. Also, the contribution of the weaponry and utensils used in the war such as the hand guns, automatic guns, and machine guns. Overall, the militaristic skills in which my grandfather gained and the utensils used, he was able to stay out of danger.

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===<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Analyze the historical significance of your interview, how has the interview added to your understanding of the war, and how you think it will help us better understand the Korean War. ===

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> Throughout what I’ve learned about the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 in class and from the homework provided, I was able to have a deeper understanding and comprehension of the war itself. When given an opportunity to sit down and talk to my grandfather, a former lieutenant and general for the South Korean army and military, it really gave me the chance to see how it affected the lives of civilians through economic, social, and domestic shifts. It will better help us understand the Korean War because it will be a real interview based on a real witness during the Korean War. The importance and significance of the historical interview is for the interviewee to get a better understanding of the war which in my opinion, many people did.

Through the economic changes, my grandfather had to go through, he was worried most of the time that there wouldn’t be much money left in the household. This drove him to join the army and military, and became one of his passions in life. He expressed a very nationalistic pride towards South Korea and at the same time, acknowledged that the lives of the North Koreans were harsh as well. Through domestic shifts, his family was constantly worried whether they would attack nearby and had to go through changes such as packing as much food as my family could so they could survive. Socially, the clash between the government and the people really shook my grandfather. Knowing all of these factors contributed to the lives of the majority of the people really exemplifies how tragic and harsh the war was.

Through this interview, I was able to grasp some of the key fundamentals of the war and the emotions behind my grandfather. He told my stories about how his life changed through many factors and how it still affects him today. These recollections taught me about the reality of the war and brought a deeper understanding where as if I just read from a textbook. It will help future people understand the Korean War more beneficially because they will be able to understand the tragic experiences which my grandfather along with many of the Koreans went through in this time of warfare. All in all, I was able to learn a lot from this interview and hopefully, other people will to after they hear the recollections from my grandfather.

**//<span style="display: block; font-size: 200%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: right; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Bibliography //**
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/Moments06RS/59_Korean_War.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Korean_War_bombing_Wonsan.jpg http://wigwags.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/korean_war_ha-sn-98-07085.jpg