Korean+War+Interview+Project+Jin+.Kwon+A+Block

Korean War Interview Project
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Script
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Summary
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Analysis Questions
1) How does your interviewee's testimony fit in with what you have learned about the experience of civilians?

My interviewee experienced a life that was almost identical to the lives that I read about in the previous documents concerning the Korean War. But due to his young age, he was luckily spared during the Korean War to the extreme cruelties, including joining the Red Army of the Communist North Koreans. However he still did lived under rather harsh conditions. He was also forced to hide from constant air raids from the Americans. He was protected by his family as they descended down into the basement. Overall, his words of experience really helped me understand what it was like during these times of war.

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?

My interviewee wasn't affected as much as other victims during the Korean War, mainly because of his age. He was protected by his family and was able to avoid drafting into the North Korean army. He quoted, "If I lived during the Korean War during the time I was 17 or over, I would've probably been drafted into the Red Army and been killed in war." The war sucked all of Korea's money into providing arms, and military artillery. Due to this, the standards of living that my interviewee were rather poor. He had to live through a period of instability, but also witnessed the growing recovery of the South Korean economy. The final establishment of the 38th parallel, finally separated Korea into North and South. After moving to Seoul and the establishment of the 38th parallel, my interviewee witnessed the growing economy and westernized ideals.

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

Luck played a part in the reasons to why my interviewee was able to stay out of danger. His age was the most decisive factor. His tender age of 13 during the war led him to avoid the drafting into the North Korean Red Army, as already mentioned many times before. He was also well protected by his family, and his family lay in the heart of the South Korean capital in Seoul. This city was highly protected by North Korean authorities, and was able to potentially avoid large damage. My interviewee, moving here during the Korean War, avoided the consequences many citizens faced in the areas of Incheon and such. He was quite lucky as he avoided witnessing most of the cruelties during the Korean War.

Release Form
In view of the historical value of this oral history interview, I, _ knowingly and voluntarily permit Jin Kwon, Asian Studies A, Korea International School the full use of this information for educational purposes.

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