Terry+Kim+Interview+with+kim+il+hyun

Interview with my Grandfather

Release Form
In view of the historical value of this oral history interview, I Kim Il Hyun knowingly and voluntarily permit Terry Kim, Asian Studies, Korea International School the full use of this information for educational purposes.

Signature: Jin Mi Ja Date: June 6h

Interview
Where were you born and raised? My name is Kim Il Hyun and is currently 82 years old. I was born and raised in Masan and still do live in Masan today.

I was part of the army and stayed in the army for my city until the war had ended. I left my family and ended up fighting for my people. My family was left at home. However, the North Koreans didn’t make it all the way down to Masan (which is very close to Busan). Therefore much of my time was not on the battlefield during the war and was a lot safer than in places more North.
 * What did you do while the war was going on?**

No, I was forced to join the army and leave my family. The war started when I was twenty years old so my name was called to join the army in Masan. However, I am glad that I did fight and help my country when it was at need.
 * Did you join the war on your own consent?**

Life during the war was tough. Even though I only fought in the Battle of Naktong River, it was tough. We didn’t have many supplies and to see friends die was so devastating...(he decided not to go on)
 * Please explain your feelings for how life was during the war?**

Yes. After that one battle, staying on my feet was hard. All the noise...just made me want to go back home.
 * Did you feel homesick?** (attempted followup)

Rarely, but I do go out to this place in Masan to look at a memorial that was built for the soldiers that fought in the war that came from the area of Masan. My name is found on that and...so are my friends. My friends that lost their lives in the war. However, do feel some pride that I represented my country well even though we were about to lose everything.
 * Do you ever reminisce about the war?**

I feel that the North Koreans must pay for their actions even today. They invaded us when we didn’t do much to them. They brutally killed the closest people to them, South Koreans, which included my own friends. We should not have stopped at the 58th parallel and should have just got rid of them then.
 * How do you feel about the North Koreans invading Korea?**

She does not like them either, but she does accept people that run away from North Korea and enter the South knowing that the North is not a good nation that the people should support. Before she only felt hatred, but now she feels that only Kim Jung Il and Kim Il Sung are the true bad ones as they manipulate the people into believing that their country is great.
 * What does your wife (my grandmother) think about the North Koreans?**

Many of my friends had died in this war. I also learned life lessons such as don’t take life for granted. I was in danger of dying while in this war and put my life at risk. Since the war I’ve learned that peace is a lot better and to cherish life more.
 * Do you think that this war affected you in any way?**

For the time being yes, but I believe that another war may start. And if it does, we can take the rest of Korea that was rightfully ours back. We haven’t had this much tension in a while and have not gotten in large fights since the War ended.
 * Do you believe that this war is over?**

Life before was a lot better than right after. It wasn't as nice as it is right now, but my family and I were in good living conditions. There were tensions that most people knew about. Of the different ...(he forgot) that were going on.
 * How was life before the war?**

It was quite hectic. Many people came down from the North before and during the war. So many had to start moving up and leaving the south after. I felt happy that it was over, but again felt some disappointment ending the war without making our country one and split it into two. A lot of damage was done to our country as well and we had many Americans and our own government trying to repair our country. However, I was able to meet my current wife after the war and live a good life after the war.
 * How was life after the war?**

...No
 * Do you wish to add more?**

Analysis/Reflection
This interview was really tough. Not only due to the fact that the interview was in Korean, but also because my grandfather cannot pronounce words very well. I needed help from my parents to help translate and help me persuade him into doing this interview. However, I did get him to do a short interview and believe that I got a lot from it. He obviously has a great hate toward North Korea for invading and breaking up the two countries. He also would not tolerate their presence in South Korea. That type of thinking has changed today. I’m not sure of how much that way of thinking has changed, but it has gotten better. I was disappointed that I could not learn more about how it was like really fighting, but he didn’t want to talk about it. It does show however, that that memory is very ugly that he would not want to share with anyone. I also did not know that enrolling in the army was required even back then when a war occurred. I believe that it was especially tough on the men because of this. Many of the insights I got from this interview also followed many sites online with their information on the bias thoughts and feelings towards the North Koreans. Seeing my grandfather actually struggle to answer some of these questions helped me understand what war was like. He experienced it first hand and was even in a battle. It made me feel a lot more scared of war than I normally was. If I didn't have this interview I would probably think war as something that happened in the past that changed lives without knowing feelings that were passed throughout the wars.