An Interview
Hyosung: Hi, Grandfather. Are you faring on well?
Grandfather: I am fine. How about you?
Hyosung: I am ok. I have a request to make. It is for my school assignment. I have to write an essay about some major events in history before the 1990s.
Grandfather: ok, what is it?
Hyosung: I wanted to ask you about your experience in the Korean War. I know it is hard for you to talk about it, but it is for my class assignment, and I would also like to learn more about what you experienced. Forgive me, grandfather, I know it’s something you don’t like to talk about but would be nice to know about it.
Grandfather: (More keenly) Hmm. Well, I guess I can tell you some important facts about my experience. I am happy that you are interested in the topic. It is a major element of our past and traditions. What do you want to know about?
Hyosung: what year did the Korean War commence in addition where did it start?
Grandfather: It began on June 25th, 1950 exactly on the 38th parallel when the North Koreans first attacked. Since I was living in Seoul at the time I could not really hear any explosions but panic soon began to build up.
Hyosung: So what happened once South Koreans learned about the invasion by the North Koreans?
Grandfather: to begin with, we packed and left with the luggage we could carry. Mostly everyone was heading south so we could be away from the fighting. Since we were so poor, we could not afford train tickets to take us further south towards Pusan. Only the upper-class were able to afford tickets and get out of Seoul first. We had a terrifying time for everyone. My mother wept endlessly. I was too afraid to ask her why but her tears basically said it all. No one would have imagined anything like this. Why us?! During this time, I thought I was daydreaming. But it was worse, a nightmare that had come to reality. The North Koreans were pushing hard and we had to get out of Seoul as fast as we could. Some choose to remain in the city, hide from the communists and welcome the UN liberators during the Seoul occupations. There, not only did they have to face the possibility of being captured by the communists; but they had to face the battles and the rampant bombings in the streets.
Hyosung: So how far away from Seoul did you get? What happened to all of you when you began leaving?
Grandfather: We all made it to the train station but we were following the tracks towards Pusan. However, before we could take another step further the military made an announcement stating that they were drafting the oldest son of every family. Unfortunately, I was. Soldiers came by and grabbed my arm and dragged me away from my family but I begged to have a minute to say good-bye. As quickly as I could I said good-bye to my parents and told them I love them so much. And as for my brother, I told him to stay strong and that he was now the head of the family, to do whatever it takes to get them to Pusan safely and told him I love him, as well.
Hyosung: It must have been hard for you. Many things took place at once. So when you got drafted where did they take you?
Grandfather: They took me and everyone else to be place on a train to take us to one of the military camps to train us. Within a short time I was able to handle a weapon. We were all rushed on how to use guns, and every single weapon because the desperation to end the war was getting stronger. Once we were all able to shoot and hold a gun and use all other weapons properly, we were shipped off to battle.
Hyosung: Battle? How fast! How did you manage all this pressure?
Grandfather: I handled it in the way I only knew how. That is, I though of my family. I knew I had to be strong and stay alive for them. The motivation to see their faces again is what kept me going. Also, I wanted my brother to have a better future, a secure future.
Hyosung: So when and where was your first battle?
Grandfather: In the second battle of Seoul when we and the United Nations recaptured Seoul. I think it was around September 22nd or 23rd. It was a great victory for all of us; I thought by taking back Seoul we were sure that the war could actually end soon. However, the war was bloody. I have never seen so much blood in my life until that battle. As my comrades and I walked through the city after the battle we could not believe our eyes on how much damage the North Koreans had done. There were elders, women, and children all dead. They faced two things, one to be hanged or shot. I even came across my house and it looked like it had been robbed and burned down. The place I called home had been destroyed. As I walked around more into the city, I came across a doll that seemed to be ripped open and burned somewhat. Beside it was a small girl. I did not believe what I saw. I knelt down and said a prayer for her. At that moment, something snapped inside of me. I became livid, and frustrated. I couldn’t comprehend how the North Koreans could be so heartless. I vowed to myself to do what I can for my people, my country, and my family. Communism was an evil word to me.
Hyosung: I now realize why you do not approve of communism. So much destruction is so hard for me to even picture it. No one deserved such brutal deaths.
Grandfather: I know but what could one do at the time except to fight every battle one came across to. I saw so many of my comrades die but there was nothing I could do. It was a battle.
Hyosung: Do you believe you fought for nothing?
Grandfather: Not at all. Even though the Americans were giving us some pointless award for our efforts, we all knew in our hearts it was much more than jus getting a piece of chocolate. We did it for our freedom and for all members of our community.
Hyosung: I understand there were at least four occupations of Seoul. Since you were involved during the second occupation of Seoul can you recall how civilians reacted to the occupations of Seoul?
Grandfather: Of course I can. I can never forget the chaos civilians had to go through and some civilians who tried to cross the Han River, being stopped from doing so by the police. The roads on the southern Han were packed. However, the poor civilians of Seoul got to the other side anyhow. As they crossed the South Korean policemen shot at them. The bridges had been bombed out and were impassable but people had to cross nonetheless, they even transversed the girders. The scenario was similar in Seoul railroad station. The trains to Taegu were overloaded and some people hang on top. I later learned that those who hang on the top of the train were killed at the first tunnel; many froze to death during the journey.
Hyosung: That was truly chaotic. What a sad way for people to die!
Hyosung: What other battles do you remember most?
Grandfather: The battle of Heartbreak Ridge is what the Americans referred to it as. It was a month-long battle during the war between September 13 and October 15, 1951. I remember this battle most because it was one of the bloodiest ones I have been too. Everyone took part in the battle for instance the United States, United Nations, and we. But most of all it was the battle that I lost my index finger in and received two other wounds. I got shot in the leg and on the side of my stomach. For a minute I thought I was going to die and all I could think of was about my family. I could not give up at that moment. I still had to take care of my parents and I had my fiancé waiting for me. The Chinese were consistently shooting at us like if they had an unlimited supply of ammo and grenades. We all kept trying to push back but it didn’t seem like we were making any progress. So many lives were taken and still, no ground was gained. It was three weeks into battle when I got injured and could not fight any longer so I was sent back to the South to a military hospital. A week later while I was in the hospital I heard that the Americans and French eventually gained the upper hand and secured Heartbreak Ridge. However, UN forces began to withdraw because hardly any territory was gained of the province. To the UN the battle was not worthwhile fighting.
Hyosung: When you returned to Pusan did you get to see your family or did you return to war?
Grandfather: No, I didn’t return to war because of my injuries. In fact, I got discharged from the Army. In a way, I wanted to go back to war because of how much hatred I had towards the communist but I needed to go home now. I missed my family so much and it was going to take a long time before I could find them. All the families were moving all around the country during the war and some were even forced to join the communist party for food. I was ready to meet my family but I was not prepared to know whether they were dead.
Hyosung: So how long did it take until you found your family?
Grandfather: Until the war ended. I did not see them for two other years.
Hyosung: Where and how did you find them?
Grandfather: I was only able to find my younger brother, two sisters, and fiancé in Seoul. The rest of my family went to the North during the war and were stuck there once the war ended. Unfortunately, both of my parents had passed away. So did my nieces, nephews, cousins, one aunt, and two uncles. They all died because of the diseases and the common cold because of the lack of medicine in our country had. There were hardly any vaccines for almost all the diseases. It was difficult for me to come to terms with all these. I suffered from depression for close to a year. I never got to tell my parents how much I loved them and that I was alright, that I was coming home, and that I stayed alive for them. Until this day I still think of them and the rest of my family, imagining how things could have been different if the first shot was never taken. The communist was heartless. I remember seeing their facial expressions when they were attacking me and my friends.
Hyosung: Couldn’t even begin to imagine about the communist were capable of. All I know is what I have read in my textbook or on the internet. But how were they? What or who really made them look like savages?
Grandfather: When they were close, they will try to kill you in any way possible and they wouldn’t stop until you were completely dead. They would make sure you were bleeding endlessly. They did all this because they were commanded to, created them to become animals. They seemed to derive pleasure from killing. The soldiers were not animals though. Actually, most of them were really good men with caring hearts. The animals were the communist government. All the party members and generals were the true animals. They would say anything to convince people to join their party and other times, they would force people to join their army because if one didn’t then you would be shot and all your loved ones would be killed. The communist did not offer freedom. You could not ask a question, it was either you joined. And if one were to oppose them; they would kill you without hesitation.
Hyosung: how did your life change after the war ended?
Grandfather: my life was difficult. It was the same for everyone. All of us had to start afresh and we began to rebuild our city.
Hyosung: What did you do to help rebuild the city?
Grandfather: Well since I was a veteran and seen as a hero I helped by reconstructing public policy. The war was devastating for all of us and I wanted to make sure that the citizens could live better than before.
Hyosung: Can you describe how devastating the aftermath was from the war?
Grandfather: Yes, First of all, the country was beset with many problems such as economic, social and political. The president during that time did not want to leave office after citizens no longer wanted him as their leader because he was unable to lead the country to proper democracy. Because of his refusal to leave office and his hunger for power, he made the country to be in worse shape than it already was. Besides that, there were at least about 100,000 orphans and widows and the unemployment rate was very high. Thousands were unemployed. It didn’t matter who won were or what one had accomplished before the war; the economy was very unstable.
Hyosung: What is one of the main reasons why the economy was unstable?
Grandfather: The communist screwed up the entire country, from the south to the north. For instance, when they were attacking Seoul they destroyed all the buildings, bridges, and homes. There was nothing but ashes and rubble all over the city. We had to rebuild everything from scratch like drawing on a blank piece of paper. But to rebuild everything the country needed money which it did not have. The government was too weak to lead properly and there was no money for the government to get. Especially, it was because there were no banks to get money from.
Hyosung: So how long did the country take to overcome all these burdens?
Grandfather: Forty years before the country could be called habitable. However, we have had physical peace and the economy has progressed. Psychological peace has not yet been achieved in Korean existence. For me, I still have nightmares of the war and still think about how many families have been separated because of the war. In my case, I still miss those who got stuck in North Korea. Nonetheless, the psychological damage for the people of Korea and I am implying to all of Korea that no armistice can remedy that ill. North and South suffered great tragedies that are difficult to heal. Sometimes I dream that our beloved country is whole once again.
Hyosung: What a great story interesting but very sad. Thanks, grandfather for taking the time to talk about the Korean War. Thank you for your time.
Reflection
From this interview, I learned the Korean War was a defining moment of the Cold War. In fact, the Korean War was indeed a tragic experience for its entire people despite which part of the country one came from north or south. All the families suffered all the same in its losses of family members by being lost, killed, wounded, or captured. Also, during the war, there was so much confusion on whether one is supportive of the North or South.
All of this led to forceful betrayal and desperation to stay alive such as being forced to join the communist army or to defend against an anti-communist party because they would believe one supported the North when one actually didn’t. Thus, forcing one to shoot his own brother, friend, or any other family member. One had to kill or they would be killed. It is definitely an experience hard to imagine and to completely understand unless one has experienced the same or experienced the war itself. The aftermath of the war was just as hard for Korean citizens. With an unstable government, there were many hardships people had to go through before the country was habitable again.
Furthermore, families were separated during the war because they kept moving back and forth trying to run away from the bloodshed and destruction of war. Therefore, once the war ended families were permanently separated because of the 38th parallel that forces the separation of the country, thus, the separation of families. Those whose families are separated can never truly know if their relatives are still alive. In addition, the Korean War was a bloody war wherein the end there was no difference. It ended where it all began. Many Koreans whether from North or South, many of them wish to see their families again.
Seeing them again is certainly a mystery but as long as the country is divided so will the families. Out of all the destructions the war caused, the separation of the family is the worse of all. For millions of Koreans, the wait continues. And the war lives on.