Jae+Rhee+-+Oral+History,+Korean+War

INTERVIEW WITH MY GRANDMOTHER
 * KOREAN WAR ORAL HISTORY

Please introduce yourself, your name, date of birth, location of birth, and family members. ** My name is Jung Myung Sook, I was born in 1934, 3/10 in Pyung An Buk Do, Yong Chun Yong Am Po. I was one of the siblings in a 7 child family. I was a highly devoted Presbyterian however, the North Korean communists committed genocide on the people with a religion other than Kim Il Sung. I just hated the way they spied on my life and we had no economical freedom. The so called “government” took all of the money that our family made. I was told that South Korea did not have any food to consume and did not know how to grow rice. That was how brainwashed we were by the North Korean government. Therefore, why whole family gathered together everything from rice to every article of clothing we had and started to walk across the border along with the Americans during the 1/4 retreat. The bombing was too harsh in the neighborhood I lived in. Therefore first we went to the country side where war did not have an effect yet. Then when there was a short cease in attack, my family came back to our home and gathered our belongings to move to South Korea. “Betrayer of the nation.” She did not have anything more to say. I was a student in the Ewha Woman’s University in Busan because it was in Busan for the safety of the students. Later it moved to Seoul, where it is now. There were too many North Koreans that escaped and settled here. It all grass and trees. There were even snakes that dwelled in Gangnam. Our family did not have any possessions therefore had to live under the same roof with all of my relatives. However, soon my father created a fabric production factory and quickly became wealthy and moved near what is now Chunghwadae. Our house was three stories high and had a swimming pool. I was too young to realize the terms of the armistice and just focused on studying. In Chu Pong Ryung Hill the trucks that were headed to Busan for refugees. In Choong Cheong Do when the trucks were going up the hills it had too many people therefore I was scared that I might fall off. We had to melt the ice for the water to put the radiator to cool the engine for it to stay ignited. She was horrified that she might fall off which would be a fall over a kilometer. Leading to an immediate death. When I was walking to South Korea, people had cloth racks loaded on the pulleys on cows. However, the South Korean pilots flew very low to check out the refugees. They believed that the racks were hiding weapons and bombed the whole route. Right in front of me many people and animals were getting bombed. They flew all over the place. Also during our journey to South Korea, we did not have any money therefore had to sell pieces of clothing on the spot to sleep over night in a motel. Our family could only order one serving of food per day and shared that between the 8 members.
 * How did you decide to come down to South Korea and leave the North? **
 * How would you describe your trip of escaping North Korea during the Korean War? **
 * What was your immediate reaction when you heard that War broke out within the Peninsula? **
 * What are your thoughts about the North Korean ruler, Kim Il Sung? **
 * Please explain your occupation during the War and immediately after the War? **
 * <span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕;">What was the condition of South Korea when you first settled here? **
 * <span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕;">Was the armistice fair? Were you satisfied with the terms of the armistice **
 * <span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕;">What is the worst memory you have about the Korean War? **
 * <span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕;">Was there anything I did not ask that you would like to add on about your experiences during the Korean War? **

<span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕;">The interview happened through the phone with my mom talking to my grandmother. I learned a lot about the condition of the two Koreas and my grandmother’s escape to South Korea. It was very difficult because my grandmother had too much to talk about. She also published a book on the Korean War. Some of the information that my Grandmother provided me with were very shocking. When she was on the truck heading to Busan, there where people falling off the trucks and plunging to the ground which was a fall over one kilometer. This sends chills through my bones. I did not know the Korean War was this depressing; my mother continuously said “I did not know it was that bad.” I learned great many things about my grandmother because people that lived through the Korean War do not want to talk about it, however my grandmother was bold and proud to broach this topic with me. It was also surprising that she was a strict Presbyterian when most of the North Koreans were not aware of any religion. She practiced her religion hidden in the basement of some house to avoid getting caught and executed. She hates both leaders of the North and South. She describes Kim Il Sung as a “betrayer of the nation” and Rhee Seung Man “Nothing more than a dishonest killer.” Now she is a happy mother and a grandmother. She is the mother of four daughters and a son, the grandmother of seven grandsons and three granddaughters. My grandfather makes fun of her even today for bringing rice and believing the propaganda that South Korea did not have anything to eat. I hope she maintains her health and lives for another 20 years.
 * <span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕;">Reflection **


 * SIGNED RAPPORT**