Ryan+Hong+-+Korean+War+Oral+History


 * Korean War Oral History

Grandfather’s Interview ** 
 * I stood next to my father while he interviewed my grandfather. I translated the transcription shortly after every response. Since I’m not fluent in the Korean language, I transcribed the sayings to the best of my ability with little help from my parent. Some of the content may be historically inaccurate due to my lack of understanding in linguistics.
 * After a brief conversation updating the relationships between my elderly parents, the interview started.

**Q **: Could you give us a brief bio of yourself? (Name, age, occupation, family, origin, etc.)

**A **: My name is Hong Hoh Song (홍호성), I’m currently 85-years-old. I am now a husband and a father of three children. Prior to the Korean War, I was born and raised in Yang Pyeong (양평), a city inside of the Gyeonggi Province. While I was there I studied the Japanese cultures and traditions in school because of the colonial period. I grew up as a street vendor, making decent amounts of money to later start my own enterprise. Soon enough I became a successful businessman and thus moved to Jeollanam-do (전라 남도 **) with only some members of my family as a way to enjoy a new lifestyle after my high school graduation ****. Soon after the war ended, I immigrated to California, America to relocate my financial institutions. 

Q: ** Up until this point your story sounds extraordinary because it seems as though you went through a lot of difficulty to present yourself with security. How did the hardships of the North Korean invasion lead you astray of your intentions in life?

**A **: When news first reached the public of an uprising conflict, it was a very frightening experience certainly because the government was recruiting middle-aged men into the military. That was definitely my biggest concern since I fit into that category. We were forced to flee the city and move as far down south as possible to avoid any interaction with the communist division. Later it became a requirement for us to serve our country. Losing our lives was one thing, but my family and businesses were also just as important in the aftermath of the war.

**Q **: What was your role in the military? Tell me your experiences.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">A **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: I've had many jobs. I patrolled different areas within the DMZ through regular shifts and that was the scariest thing ever. I was also a weapons coordinator, I was to deliver and supply firearms and ammunitions to the soldiers prior to scouting campaigns and things of that sort. I've only been in combat once, it was very minor although I had some light pieces of shrapnel burn through my clothes. I was very lucky.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Q **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: What was happening in your hometown during the war?

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">A **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: Yang Pyeoung was one of the first cities to be invaded by the North Koreans. People were fleeing from the area and some of my family who lived there during the time were never heard from again.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Q **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: At one point in the war North Korea had forced the republicans all the way to Busan until the Americans made an amphibious landing in Incheon. Express your feelings towards the North Koreans and the Americans.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">A: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Well obviously there is a major difference in political ideas between the two divisions of Korea. South Korea does not deserve to be entitled to a communist government so it is definitely wrong of North Korea to attempt to gain control of the entire peninsula. After all its a war fought between the same race and same soil, just different types of social systems. The Americans on the other hand shared the common interest of capitalism. A mutual alliance was motivational and gave us an edge in the war because General McArthur's strategies in warfare were outstanding.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Q **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: Do you think Seungman Rhee was a worthy president during his reign?

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">A **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: I think that he was a good president during the Cold War because he was a democrat, and he did everything in his power to avoid the oppression on communism in South Korea. Now that I look at it today he is the probably the one to blame for dragging this side of the country into the war in the first place. He could have negotiated more peacefully and accept a series of beneficiary terms before war was declared.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Q **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">: What do you think of Koreas current condition after the armistice was signed?

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">A **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 81%;">: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">The war is not over even though we would like to think it is. There is a chance that another conflict will break out because these days there are many disputes regarding the submarine controversy. That is just one instance of a growing issue, but I think we will get over it because it would be extremely perilous for both sides.


 * Q**: What did you do after the war?


 * A**: I finished college, received a degree in economics, and then graduated with my girlfriend. A couple years down the road she became my wife and we raised three children in the U.S., before moving back to Korea.


 * Q**: Why America?


 * A**: The West presented us with a multitude of beneficial opportunities. I made several investments in real estates and made a lot more money in the states than I did in Korea. My company started to grow and we were promised security. While I was in America I was able to learn many new things as well. I learned English and I realized the different cultures of the Americas. It was a new experience and now one of my sons resides here with me.


 * Q**: In the future, do you think that Korea will unify?


 * A**: North and South Korea obtain different political ideals. It would take many years in order for one side of the division to convert its government base into a common one. It would be a great historical event if it were to ever take place because many families were separated during the Korean War. A reunification would be the best thing thats ever happened to the country.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;"> End of conversation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">The interview ended and my parents called farewell to each other.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Reflection **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">

The Korean War oral interview was a great experience because I gained first hand knowledge from a veteran. Usually, I would make up stories to fulfill the requirements of the assignment, but in this case I learned about my family’s historical background although the information he provided may have been slightly inaccurate or insufficient. I thought it was interesting to receive insight to the specific lifestyles of those who had fought or experienced the drama of the conflict. This was different because in class we learned the material in perspective of the bigger picture and saw each detail wether it be political, social, or economic, individually. This assignment was more of a medley and mixed all those aspects into a single story behind one man. His experiences and opinions are of grave value because they can be accounted as primary sources for the people of the future. By asking my grandfather a series of questions about the Cold War, we received a more in depth understanding of their feelings during this period of time; something that textbooks and online sources can't explain. Once war breaks out within a particular country, I can infer that it is normal for a soldier's previous family, lifestyle, and wealth to be lost during the progression of a dispute. Additionally, I realized that the reunification of Korea would probably not happen because doing so would result in serious changes to the foundation of the peninsula itself. Since South Korea is a capitalist government, it encourages free enterprise whereas North Korea is a military dictated division solely on the basis of communism. Other than that, the opinions that the veterans have towards those who have invaded them are standard. South Korea's hatred towards countries with the likes of North Korea, Japan, and China are ever-growing.