Korean+War+Interview+Project+Youjin+Kwon+A+Block

= Korean War Interview =

By Youjin Kwon
__ **Analysis question ** __  My interviewee's testimony is quite similar to what I have learned about the experience of civilians from books and articles, but also differs a little. I have always thought that it was massive death toll and people were basically dying everywhere. Maybe my grandma was not very objective about people dying because she didn't what me to know about so many deaths, but she never talked much about people dying everywhere like I have learned from books and article in class and out of class. She told me a lot about hunger and instability in politics and economy, but it was not like people were depressed, unhappy, or pessimistic about future. It surprises me to realize that dark time was not during the war, but right now when people complain about internet being slow, food being not very tasty and stress out about weight. According to my interview, people were hardened by the war and learned to be more firm and not to complain, but to live everyday without dying. Her account was similar in that when civilians were evacuating they basically lost everything, but could not go back to check if anything was remaining. My grandma never saw her home again until war was long over.
 * 1) How does your interviewee's testimony fit in with what you have learned about the experience of civilians?**

The famous amphibious landing in Incheon allowed my grandma and rest of other Southerners to move back to their home. They basically saw nothing was remaining due to continuing bombing and attack. She thought that war was finally almost over and she can go back home. As she was walking and traveling back up Chinese forces came down upon them like "numerous as ants." I have heard that the Chinese forces were mostly comprised of prisoners instead of trained soldiers, but i am not sure if that statement is credible. But my grandma had to walk evacuate down to Busan with her family. She said that she was very sad as she was going deep down again, knowing that war was far from over.  My grandma did not really explain her war experience as being dangerous or in constant vigil. But I can hypothesize that she was afraid of bombing in the air. The sound of airplane probably scared her and rest of the people who were evacuating. She said that people went into the cave and avoided being inside big buildings because buildings were big target for bombing. She also had to move in units rather than wander off individually because it was safer to get defense from armies. Disease was also imminent danger, so she had to keep a lookout for any wounds to get infected. Though hygiene was hardly an option, she probably boiled most of her food. __ ** Videos media type="youtube" key="LdtCdER6W7U" height="252" width="412"
 * 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?** 
 * 3) Hypothesize or explain how you interviewee was able to stay out of danger.**

media type="youtube" key="xuEkEDA4vCc" height="266" width="410"

media type="youtube" key="pdsQUYaKaRo" height="335" width="420"

media type="youtube" key="bOvPmXwAevU" height="261" width="426"

media type="youtube" key="ihmq9SbBCNs" height="280" width="421"

Interview Questions ** __

__ ** Summary

Essay

Release Form ** __