Julian+Lee+KRW+Interview

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In view of the historical value of this oral history interview, I __**Chang Ha Hyun**__ knowingly and voluntarily permit Julian Lee, Asian Studies, Kis the full use of this information for educational purposes. Signature __**Chang Ha Hyun**__ Date __**December 7 2008**__ Interview Questions How old were you during the Korean War and what was your occupation during the time? What happened to you in June 25th of 1950, when the North Koreans invaded South Korea. What did the Air Force do during the war? Can you detail any events during the Nakdong River Battle? Do you know anyone who was injured or dead during the war? What happened to your military life when U.S. succeeded in their Incheon Landing and South Korea regained its capital? How did the war change your life? Did you observe any cruelties during the war? If so, please explain to us about them? What were some of ROK government’s reactions to the war? What do you think both Koreas lost during the war? What were the general South Koreans’ reactions to the Americans and allies? What happened as the Chinese intervened the War? Do you remember any kind of government propaganda during the time? Lastly, do you have any last words to say to the future generations regarding the relationship of North and South Korea?

Analysis Questions and Essay Incorporated

My grandfather, Chang Ha Hyun was twenty one years old during the Korean War. He was quickly recruited into the air force troops while walking on the streets by a soldier. He recalled that at the time, any young men were taken by the troops for military training. He lived in Daegu at the time, which was where the Air Force base was located. Therefore, he was not able to describe to me the lives of civilians endangered by the war. Daegu was never conquered by the North Korean army though it was threatened when the North Koreans marched to the Nakdong River. My grandmother was able to describe about the Nakdong River war. Though she lived afar from the war site, she recalled images of bombing. She said that the war lasted for months but after the Incheon Landing Operation which cut the supply route for the North Koreans, the North Korean armies were forced into surrendering. They were sent into P.O.W camp and stayed until the truce. After the truce, one third of the captives went back to the North and the rest decided to live in the South. When asked about how the war affected the lives of Koreans in the South, he said that many families were torn apart because every young man was recruited to the army. He said that if he applied for the marine corps or land forces, he probably would not have been alive. He told me about a friend who was in the navy and the ship was attacked. The ship eventually sank and my grandfather’s friend was the only man alive. Also, he told me about how the war was fought at the time. Since technology was not advanced, the armies would cut the transmission line of one another and it would take days for information to be notified among armies. Also, soldiers used the bayonet to kill the enemies when their gun ran out of bullets. Therefore, unlike wars these days, so many casualties occurred and soldiers fighting up front were considered as “going to die” at the time. This interview gave me a whole new perspective on what happened during the war. Though I saw many clips and films detailing the events of the war, gaining the first person observation of the war. However, most of these films depict the stories of the people who directly faced the cruelties or dangers in the war. The films involved many disturbing scenes like torturing and unnecessary murders. Therefore, when I heard about the P.O.W camp, I suspected that the South Koreans would have tortured many of the captives. However, the story I heard from my grandfather was different, and he stated that there were no such vicious acts involved and in fact, the village people were very kind to the prisoners. Also, most of the prisoners remained obedient to the South Korean orders. This information made me question the validity of the films and that they may have included false depictions due to the nature of films to stir people with vivid images. The general lesson of the war remained unchanged after the interview. My grandfather was adamant about the devastating effects of the war and said that it should never occur again. As I never experienced war first hand, hearing the idea of war from the war generation’s eyes was new. He told me that war is not a glamorous occurrence with honor for the heroes, but a lose-lose game for both sides. He asserted that both the North and South lost in the war and had to cope with the deteriorations for decades. He knows a friend who lost a sister and according to the friend, war is the most criminal product produced by men. My grandmother also added on to this, saying that she can never forget the constant sound of bombing and screaming from the soldiers. In this sense, the testimonies aided my understanding of the seriousness and horrific nature of war. My grandfather said that he was lucky to live in Daegu at the time, avoiding direct confrontation with the North Koreans. As he stayed in the back line of the war, his life was never threatened due to the war. His family all remained in Daegu at the time, so he did not experience breaking apart with his family. However, many of his friends recruited as land forces were not able to make it back home. The war caused so much misery to the general public and he recalls that people were so shocked by the sight of their “brother nation”’s invasion. He stated that both North and South were losers at the end of the war as so many people died and the ramifications of the war was devastating. The city of Seoul was “entirely destroyed into pieces unable to identify” and so many children were on the street waving at the Americans for food. Though I was not able to get the clear picture of the battles, my grandfather told me about the general happenings in the war. His conclusion that he wishes to see the North and South reunite before his death showed the desire of many Koreans who lived during the war.