Jay+Ghil+Interview

Interviewed my Grandfather: Gil Jay Yeon (길자연) And yes he does come out in Naver haha http://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%B1%E6%C0%DA%BF%AC&x=0&y=0&sm=top_hty&fbm=1 Age: 69 years old Occupation Now: Founding Pastor of WangSung Church (왕성교회), Headmaster of Calvin University, Jay's Gramps =] Status during Korean War: Elementary student in a small village

My grandfather had been 10 years old at this time. He lived in a small village in Pyong An Buk Do (평안북도) which is in North Korea :0. My grandfather's father had been a pastor, but the North Korean government wouldn't allow people to believe in what they wanted to because of communism. My grandfather's family was very strong in religion. My grandfather grew up to become a pastor and my dad followed his career as well. My grandfather was the eldest from five brothers. All of them are alive today except for one. He said that he wanted to become a pastor to some extent because of the Korean War. As said before, his family wasn't allowed to believe in the religion they believed in: Christianity. He knew how hard it was to believe in Christianity during this time, so now that he was free to believe in whatever, he chose to become a pastor, to give others a chance to believe. Also, N. Korea had been arresting people who believed in another religion, so my grandfather's family was in danger at this time.
 * 1. Where was he born and some background information.**

During the war, my grandfather's father was supposed to have entered the war as a soldier. But, he had other ideas. He didn't think that he'd find any good fighting for the North Koreans, and his family agreed. They were all tied together by religion. The North Korean gov't was restraining people from believing in what they wanted to believe because they were communist. So they escaped from North Korea. My grandfather with his five brothers with his parents escaped North Korea, driven with the will of religion and surviving the war. It took him a few months to get to S. Korea.
 * 2. What was my grandfather doing during this time?**

My grandfather's life had been okay. He had played with his friends because he was in elementary school. His family wasn't very rich. His family was pretty poor, they had little food, and my grandfather's father was a pastor, which wasn't a well paid job during that time. Actually, pastors were not even allowed to exist during that time in N. Korea due to communism. Growing up with four younger brothers wasn't a big help as well. Life was very hard. There was also tension rising because of S. Korea and N. Korea. After the Korean War, my grandfather and his family finally started their life in S. Korea. My grandfather's siblings started receiving better education than they had in N. Korea. My grandfather aimed to be a pastor. As I know, one of his siblings grew up to become a doctor and another an owner of a meat shop. I think they all sort of reflect their past lives. Living up in N. Korea, my grandfather's family wasn't able to believe in what they wanted to so I think he grew up to become a pastor. Health care was very poor during the Korean War so my grandfather's sibling might have been thinking of that when he became a doctor. Being poor, their family was unable to afford good food, so maybe my other grandfather's sibling became a meat restaurant owner. He has quite good business, too! I heard that one of his siblings died while escaping from N. Korea, which saddened my grandfather. I haven't heard of the last sibling, but I'm sure he's doing well, too.
 * 3. How was my grandfather's life changed before and after the Korean War?**

They absolutely hated the government. My grandfather's whole family were devoted Christians, so they were very angry at the government for not being able to believing in Christianity like they wanted. My grandfather said that his father always preached other people even though he knew that he had a chance of being arrested for it. The rules of the government were one of the main reasons my grandfather said that they escaped to the South.
 * 4. What did my grandfather and his family think of the government of N. Korea?**

(I'm not sure if he was telling the truth here haha) Well, he said that he had known her from the North when they were young. He said that they fell in love the moment he met her-_-. (My grandfather was laughing hard here so I'm not really sure what he was saying..) [I think he said...] My grandfather was telling some sort of love story, but to make it short. My grandfather fell in love with my grandmother. The Korean War happened. My grandfather escaped and apparently so did my grandmother. When my grandfather escaped to S. Korea, he met up with my grandmother and got married. They had two children, my dad and my aunt. Then came me and my siblings.
 * 5. How did you meet Grandma?**

My grandfather thought that it was a little of both. War had torn the country apart which was devastating. He had also lost one of his brothers during the escape. However, he was happy that his family was finally out of the N. Korean's reach. My grandfather's family was finally able to believe in what they wanted to and my grandfather and his siblings were able to pursue their dreams. Thanks to them being able to escape because of the Korean War, they became successful in Korea in the present.
 * 6. How do you feel about the war? Was it necessary?**

My grandfather believes that the leader is the reason why the country is like that. He thinks that the country is worse than what it was. He feels pity for the North Koreans who cannot do what they want to do, such as believing in what they want to. He still says that it feels wrong how they are still enslaved by the government. He even went on to to say that he would've liked to preach the people in his village and made them escape with him during the Korean War. He said that he never saw many of his friends ever again which really saddens me. Compared to my grandfather's life, I have a pretty easy-going life.
 * 7. What do you think of North Korea now?**

No. We were always on the run. If you say that we had to pick a role, it would be a preacher. My father had been a preacher and pastor. He always preached the people in his small village, for those who listened. While my grandfather's family was on the run, they had to go through many obstacles. A family of seven, no food, no safe shelter, etc. They even one of their siblings on the run. My opinion: Their main role was just to stay alive for the future of their family, I think. Another role could have been to preach more people in S. Korea.
 * 8. Do you think your family had a role during the Korean War?**

It was disbelief and shock. My father was supposed to have fought for N. Korea, but he chose not to. We escaped N. Korea. We had a fear everyday while escaping that we would be caught by someone while on the run. My father had always tried to encourage us with the words of God, which I thought worked. We lost a lot of hope when we lost one of my brothers during the escape. (I didn't ask him how he died.) When we finally came to S. Korea, it didn't look much better than the North, but we were safe and that was what counted.
 * 9. What were your emotions during the war?**

Yes. The Korean War was a very tragic moment for all of us. We lost our home, a family member, and many friends. But, thanks to God, we escaped the clutches of N. Korea and came to S. Korea, where we are now living peacefully. I thank God that I have a family now and hope that nothing like the Korean War will affect my family.
 * 10. Is there anything else you want to say as a wrap up?**


 * Thanks Grandpa for your time for this interview! I learned a lot from you and a lot about you as well. :) **


 * Reflection**