Jamie+Woo's+Interview

**Korean War Oral History** 
 * 1. Could you please state your name, age, present age, where you were born, family member, and where you were at during the Korean War**

My name is Lee Nak Ju (이낙주) and currently I am 85 years old. I was born in North Pyongyang. At that time I wasn’t married, my family members were the only family I had. During the Korean war I was in Seoul.


 * 2. Before the Korean War what did you do?**

Before the Koran War I was a university student in Seoul University. After the war in 1966 I went to Central Michigan University and stayed there for about 2 years.


 * 3. Were you in the Army? How did you get into the Army? What was your current age at that time?**

During the Korean War I was in the air force which is quite different from the army but we were still soldiers. I volunteered by myself to join the Air force during the Korean War. At that time I was about 26 years old.


 * 4. How did your family react when they heard you were going into the army?**

At that time all my family members were living in the North, while I was the only one living in Seoul. Therefore, there was nobody to ask permission for me joining the Air force.


 * 5. During the Korean War what was your job?**

Although I was in the Air force, I was only a student. The people who were in the air force didn’t actually interact during the war. Actually, I was also an officer in the air force. So I received payment and also the air force provided me with the food and the living equipment.


 * 6. During the Korean War did you get hurt a lot?**

Not at all. I was a teacher in the Air force School, and taught many officers so my relationship in fighting in the war was extremely far. Also people who worked in the air force stayed in safe places I didn’t actually experience the danger that was going around.


 * 7. You know that army ended in an Armistice, how was the situation at that time? How did your friends or the people around you react?**

The situation then was very complicated. The army were extremely strong fighters, some of the Air force soldiers also fought during the War. Of course I didn’t. I was teaching many pilots about their duties. My friends and people mostly felt relieved and happy that the war ended.


 * 8. What was the most memorable time during the Korean War?**

The most memorable situations during the Korean War was when the Army overruled PyongYang. I also felt a great pleasure when we overruled the Baek Du Mountains (백두산).


 * 9. What did you think about the Korean War?**

Of course I didn’t have a good impression about the war because it was a fight between countries. I felt extremely inferior because I felt that North Korea was ignoring South Korea.


 * 10. Lately, our relationship between the North Koreans isn’t that good right? Do you think we are going to have another War?**

It would be difficult because the situations are extremely different compared to the Korean War. I just hope the North Korean doesn’t bomb anything because that will cause many problems.


 * 11. Lastly, Do you have anything else to tell me?**

I just hope the North Korean learns some peace because from what I know they are extremely hard to negotiate with. Also, because North Koreans are different from us I hope they learn some democracy then they would be a better country.



I think I learned many things about the Korean War from interviewing my Grandparents. I feel that my grandfather is a Primary source about the Korean War. By making up my questions I had to try hard to make questions that wouldn’t be a offense to my grandfather. I think I learned more from interviewing my Grandparents compared to just researching on the internet. In addition, I could also learn a more personal opinions from my grandparents. While I was interviewing my grandparents I could learn what a great person he was, how he lived, and how his life was during the young age. Actually, it was shocking to learn that my grandparents were involved in any war because I am not familiar with any war or anything similar to that. Also it was shocking to learn that my grandfather taught the pilots who fought during the Korean War. Even though he didn’t fight during the Korean War I was so extremely impressed about my grandparents. Mostly, I learned about the differences and similarities of armies and air forces during this interview. I also learned that my grandfather actually volunteered to join the air force. I always thought men didn’t have a choice to join the army, this was something new. My grandfather has three badges, which I’m not sure about, but symbolizes that he was a high officer among the Hwarang. Seeing these three badges I really thought to myself that my grandfather was an important person who actually was a great teacher to those pilots.