SY+KWI

 (Soyeon's Grandfather) -by Soyeon Jeong :D **
 * Interview with Won Young-Hee


 * // Interview Questions

//**1. Identification. Please give us a little background of yourself. 2. What do you remember about the break out of Korean War? 3. What was the effect on your economic situation? 4. Where were you when the war broke out? 5. What type of personal role did you play in the war? 6. What changes did the war bring on your personal life? 7. What were your thoughts of the Americans during the war? 8. What are your feelings towards the Russians? 9. What memories do you have of the North Koreans? 10. What views do you have towards the North Koreans now? 11. What effect did the war have on your relationships with friends and family? 12. What do you think of the outcome of the war? 13. What are your opinions on unification?


 * // Release Form //**



  Part A:media type="file" key="KOREAN WAR INTERVIEW 2.mp3" Part B: media type="file" key="KOREAN INTERVIEW PART B.mp3" Part C: media type="file" key="KOREAN INTERVIEW PART C.mp3"
 * //Interview Podcast//**

 **//Summary Podcast//**

media type="file" key="SOYEON'S TRANSLATION STUFF.mp3" //**New:**// media type="file" key="summary 2.mp3"

 **//Analysis Questions//**

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

My grandfather's testimony fits perfectly with what we have learned. In part of the testimony, my grandfather stated that some civilians in the south were cheering and clapping when the North invaded. The South and the North had suffered economically and this caused chaos. Like the testimony of my grandfather, they did not have enough food, and would do nearly anything to gain this food. The families would also do anything in their power to simply survive; let alone stay together. Thus, many families were separated throughout the war, and this is seen in my own grandfather's testimony. He was the eldest son, and therefore was sent to Busan to have a higher chance of survival while the rest of the family went to Piyang for safety. The horrible experiences of the civilians that we had learned were in accordance with the experiences of my own grandfather, who went through separation from his family, searches for food, and other such conflicts.

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?

Although my grandfather lived in Anyang at the time, he moved around the south of Korea a lot while trying to avoid the dangerous areas. While moving around constantly, he underwent not only a lot of walking, but the constant worry of an attack. My grandfather had a lot of responsibility as the first son at the time and had to be the leader of eight siblings. Everyday, he would get two immense pumpkins from a village far away for his family. He had to sacrifice his education for his own survival and that of his siblings as well. The major events, such as the push down to Busan when he was at Piyang (stuck in the middle), shows the detrimental chances that people were forced to go through, especially because of the major events of the war.

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

The constant traveling to other places in order to avoid danger was perhaps more dangerous. However, this constant moving was not as dangerous as I had before thought. My grandfather said that soldiers and battles most often happened in mountainous regions with forests. The mountainous regions were also difficult to go across. Thus, most fighting happened in the mountains while most civilians walked for safety to Busan. He left for Busan while the rest of his family went to Piyang before everyone, yet all family members survived and were reunited later on. As a small child, interrogation or physical pain would not have been as likely. My grandfather was only in elementary school during the war. Thus, a small child traveling where no direct military battles occurred allowed him to stay out of danger. He was truly lucky that nothing harmed him while he was at Busan when the North had already attacked down to Busan. 


 * //Essay: Analyze the historical significance of your interview: How has the interview added to your understanding of the war? How do you think it well help us better understand the Korean War?//**

The historical facts are not difficult to learn of the Korean War; textbooks, teachers, and internet websites can give information about the war. However, the interview with Won Young-hee with real life experience in the war is a primary source; my grandfather’s personal involvement in the war and his memories of hardships allows us to see the true significance of the meaning of the war for so many civilians. The understanding that the war affected so many people in such unconditional and harmful ways reflects the societal principles and emotions that civilians have today for the North Koreans and foreign nations.

The interaction with my grandfather about the Korean War as a historical source, instead of a grandfather was beneficial to my understanding of the war. The difficulties that he had to undergo and his motivation for a better life shows the immense change that South Korea has gone through since the war. Because of this change, sometimes it is difficult to imagine the hardships, but the interview reminded me of what South Korea had started from. The war had been a simple battle between the United States and Soviet Union before the interview; Korea had simply been a pawn in the Cold War. However, with my grandfather’s opinion, I was able to see that the Korean War was both a civil war as well as a part of the Cold War. I had known of the similar strength of both sides and difficulty in fighting, for it had always been emphasized in documentaries, textbooks, and other educational sources of the war. However, the Korean War being mostly a civil war had been unrecognized by many of the textbooks. During the time of economic hardship, the many Koreans had turned to communism because of the poverty; this split into two because of the drastically different ideologies of communism and democracy caused a civil war, although within the Cold War. My grandfather expressed that the North Koreans were not relatable during the war and that even foreigners could be more trusted than the North.

The Korean War should be understood not one-dimensionally, but instead with an open mind. The Korean War should be considered both a civil war and part of the Cold War. Although it was dominated by the United States and Soviet Union, the experiences of devastation were felt by Koreans as well. The oral historical interview not only allowed for us to understand the devastation and difficulties that the people of the time had to go through, but also how these events affected the rest of their lives. The emotion felt in my grandfather’s voice is shown through an interview conducted orally, instead of on paper. The passion my grandfather had for the interview can be expressed through his voice and this interview allowed for a clearer understanding of the war itself, as well as the effects of the war on the people of Korea.

The Korean War is not a war to be simply forgotten; because of the hardships our predecessors underwent and their motivation for a better life, we are able to be a successful nation today. Continuing to explore the dimensions of the war as well as the consequences that the war had on Korea and the perceptions of the United States, Soviet Union, as well as China will allow for a better way to forgive. The hardships should not be forgotten, but forgiven.