Korean+War+Interview+Project+Sarah+Cho+C+Block

Korean War Interview Sarah cho

**Interview Questions:** 1. Could you please give a brief introduction of yourself? (Including name, age, background, marriage, job, and family of today, and back in the Korean War) 2. What was the surrounding/nature of the place you lived like? How did it change during the War? 3. What hardships did you experience during this period of time? 4. What was your family's reaction when this happened? 5. How did the North Koreans treat you and your family at that time period? 6. What do you remember in the beginning of the Korean War? 7. What new things did you approach to as the Korean War became more severe? 8. Did you take any action when this War happened? If so what were they? If not, what do you think was a plan that would've worked to stop this War? 9. Did you hear anything from the radio that was about North or South Korea? 10. What did you learn in school about your country, or North Korea? 11. What was the cost of the war? 12. What is your opinion about this War? 13. What was life like after the war ended?

**Original Interview:** media type="file" key="asian studies interview project.mp3"

**Interview Summary:** media type="file" key="summary of interview.mp3"


 * Analysis Questions: **
 * 1. How does your interviewee's testimony fit in with what you have learned about the experience of civilians?**

The interviewee was my grandfather, and he was a young boy at that time. As he remembers, the things experienced during the Korean War was far more descriptive because the perspective of a child can sometimes bring more understanding to the matter. My interviewee's testimony fits in with what I've learned about the experience of civilians because I was able to compare and reflect on the real events that happened during the War. As I have learned during Asian Studies, people were treated very harshly, and as well as being treated unfairly. After I have done this interview, I learned more about the society and the thoughts of the people back then. These people were not only being treated harshly and unfairly, but they were also being lied by the government of North Korea. This testimony not only proved that the events and happenings that we've read and listened to was true, but in fact it was helping understand what other unfair treatment the people of South Korea were receiving.


 * 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?**

As I have read through many packets, I understood that people did not have any idea of what was going on inside the government, and how harshly the innocent people were treated due to false information. The major events in my grandfather's life was moving from North Korea to South Korea, and living under a harsh condition. As this happened in his life, his future and as well as belief for other people disappeared. If was not easy to trust one another at that time since they were tricked even by the government. Also, when the events in war happened in his life, it affected the mind so much that even in his dreams, he dreamt about killing, dying, and tank noises.


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

In my very opinion, my grandfather was able to stay out of danger because he knew what was mostly going on both sides of Korea. Though he was not a full grown up, and did not have full understanding of the war, he was able to reflect the actions taken by the North Koreans. As stated in the interview, he was trying to go into the military to fight for the country, but his family repressed him from doing so because they knew what the consequences were. I believe that my grandfather was able to survive through the dangerous war due to one reason; believing in their own country. Since they knew what the North Korean government was lying about, they were able to remain in South Korea, and not escape to the North after listening to the radio.

 Today, North Korea and South Korea are two very different countries. Though these two countries have the same race, the way of life and the morals of life are extremely distinct. South Korea, today, is a democratic country, where people have their own right and will. However, North Korea is a country with no independence and no right for the people. People probably have different opinion towards this War, however, the torture and pain people received would be equal for everybody. The interview was able to straighten out the unclear information that we have been taught.
 * Essay:**
 * How has the interview added to your understanding of the war? How do you think it will help us better understand the Korean War?**

By doing this interview, history could be learned by many people. The historical significance is the eager and madness my grandfather experienced due to this war. The idea of wars were introduced to me by my grandfather on and on about the treatment and feeling he received from this war. He wished that this war did not happen in the beginning. As well as the North Korea and South Korea to reunite. However, he knows that that can not happen in any way, therefore, he did not want to remember anymore.

When I did this interview with my grandfather, I learned things that I haven't learned at school. In school, when learning historic events, even though we read, it’s hard to elaborate with the feelings felt at that time. However, when my grandfather talked about the time when soldiers came in abruptly into their houses to obtain any steal, iron, or utensils that soldiers could use at war. This was because the country needed more weapons as the war continued, and since there was lack of utilities, the soldiers earned them from the houses of the people. I was shocked, since this wasn’t something I learned in class, though I learned that people had no right and no privacy at all. However, for most, I think the one thing that taught me the most was the expression on my grandfather’s face when he was telling me the story. Without the expression on his face, it would have been hard to understand and learn the new historic event.

There are many ways to learn the historic event, but what helps the most seems a primary interview. By listening to the details that one remembers from the time back then helps the learners grab the attention more. As my grandfather explained about the happenings during the war, he specifically told me the inner thought of a child. Though children didn't learn much in school about the North Koreans, it was obvious to them the evil thought the North Koreans had. Since he expressed the exact same feeling he experienced at that age, and at that moment, I was able to learn how severe the war was. Without seeing my grandfather's feelings through his voice, no one can ever understand the pin he earned from the Korean War.

In conclusion, though reading and doing activities in class teaches students a lot, having a deep interview with someone who lived through the historical event is even more influential. When doing this interview, one should keep in mind that the way of approaching this subject should be very careful, because some might want to forget about the past time. Overall, I have learned that during the Korean War, people had no right to anything, even the things they owned to themselves, such as utensils used at home. Also, my grandfather’s family knew what to do that will lead them to a good end. The people who knew what life is like under the North Korean power, they knew that it was better to stay in South Korea for better treatment and future. But the only thing this war had given the people was inner pain due to family loss and mental disruption.