By Bernard Rowan
Recently I've been reading stories of South Korean families' experiences during the Korean War. These stories present the bitter realities of fighting and overcoming the communists. They prefigure the greatness of South Korea today. Among them is the account of a family led by Lee Choonwon (Yi Kwang-su). Thanks to his daughter, Lee Chung-hwa, posterity will benefit from learning of her mother's battle to save her family, and her determination to keep her medical practice going. Choi Yearn-hong has shared with me her story, which I will write about for this column. Yi's story will form part of his forthcoming book, "The Forgotten War: As Remembered by Six Adolescents."
Yi Kwang-su (1892-1950) was a leader of the resistance to Japanese colonial rule. Choonwon was his nickname and means "spring garden." Yi is the author of the Korean Declaration of Independence (Feb. 8, 1919) and served as editor and publisher of the Korean Independence News from Shanghai as a member of the interim government. Lee also wrote a famous early 20th century novel entitled "Mujeong" (Heartless).
Yi's daughter's story of her mother's efforts to save her father, brother, sisters and her makes for riveting reading. When the Northern forces and apparatchiks made it to Seoul, her father was ill, and too weak to escape. Yi's brother variously hid in a cave near Jaha Gate (Changuimun), in a makeshift hideout in the family home, and at a neighbor's place. The authorities seized Choonwon, eventually taking him to Pyongyang as a political prisoner, where he died. Not content to kill the brave and free, we read of the communists' perverse delight in leading Yi's family on a goose chase, delivering care packages to a prison where his father wasn't incarcerated.
At the outbreak of war, South Koreans looked naively for a quick win by the Allies. I've read several stories recently, and this groundless optimism in a quick South Korean or American victory quickly gave way to terror in the present. More important, it gave way to an unstoppable spirit of resistance and endurance. Yi's story shows South Koreans believed in fighting as members of the rearguard to save and protect their own. Lee says, "These were our friends on our side, sharing our love. They were fellow compatriots of the Republic of Korea…" Time and again, Lee, her mother and siblings, accepted humiliations, and challenges, overcoming them with grit, wit and determination.
Choonwon did not confess to any crimes. "I shall not do anything disloyal to the Republic of Korea!" remain his clarion words of defiance. This heroic founder of present-day South Korean democracy is too little celebrated. Choonwon smiled to comfort his daughter amid the scene of investigation and arrest.
Lee's brother, Young-keun, did not succumb to the volunteer conscriptions of the "dongwon" (mobilization). Lee's mother triumphed over all dangers to keep her family together, fed, and as safe as possible. She even ran various versions of a clinic for those in need, including young mothers. Her friends and associates cleverly played on the differences between communists, rightists, and leftists to delay and avoid North Korean punishments and imprisonment. Machiavelli knows the virtue of the fox or chameleon in wartime. In one part of Lee's account, a family friend, Chung, devised a method to borrow money from a Chinese restaurateur and save an elderly doctor from the communists.
I found touching the story of Lee's family evacuation to Busan during the 1951 "1.4 Hutoe." How beautiful was she, a child herself, to carry a baby who had lost her father, all the way in the cold winter weather?
Just over 70 years ago, the Korean War began. It remains a seminal event for 20th century geopolitics and for today. The continuing division remains because of the abomination that is the North Korean state. Kim Jong-un props himself up with support from a host of pretenders to the mantle of global leadership. The Korean War's legacy is the reward of freedom. The rise of South Korea to advanced nation status and membership in the family of democratic nations should answer anyone who asks why this conflict had to occur. South Korea leads in many indices and is in the top 15 of global nations, including an outstanding record of COVID-pandemic response.
Sacrifices by Yi Kwang-su and the example of his family members are the reasons for the South's actual victory, now and in the future. We must hold up stories such as Yi Kwang-su's for now and forever!
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.
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Yi Kwang-su (1892-1950) was a leader of the resistance to Japanese colonial rule. Choonwon was his nickname and means "spring garden." Yi is the author of the Korean Declaration of Independence (Feb. 8, 1919) and served as editor and publisher of the Korean Independence News from Shanghai as a member of the interim government. Lee also wrote a famous early 20th century novel entitled "Mujeong" (Heartless).
Yi's daughter's story of her mother's efforts to save her father, brother, sisters and her makes for riveting reading. When the Northern forces and apparatchiks made it to Seoul, her father was ill, and too weak to escape. Yi's brother variously hid in a cave near Jaha Gate (Changuimun), in a makeshift hideout in the family home, and at a neighbor's place. The authorities seized Choonwon, eventually taking him to Pyongyang as a political prisoner, where he died. Not content to kill the brave and free, we read of the communists' perverse delight in leading Yi's family on a goose chase, delivering care packages to a prison where his father wasn't incarcerated.
At the outbreak of war, South Koreans looked naively for a quick win by the Allies. I've read several stories recently, and this groundless optimism in a quick South Korean or American victory quickly gave way to terror in the present. More important, it gave way to an unstoppable spirit of resistance and endurance. Yi's story shows South Koreans believed in fighting as members of the rearguard to save and protect their own. Lee says, "These were our friends on our side, sharing our love. They were fellow compatriots of the Republic of Korea…" Time and again, Lee, her mother and siblings, accepted humiliations, and challenges, overcoming them with grit, wit and determination.
Choonwon did not confess to any crimes. "I shall not do anything disloyal to the Republic of Korea!" remain his clarion words of defiance. This heroic founder of present-day South Korean democracy is too little celebrated. Choonwon smiled to comfort his daughter amid the scene of investigation and arrest.
Lee's brother, Young-keun, did not succumb to the volunteer conscriptions of the "dongwon" (mobilization). Lee's mother triumphed over all dangers to keep her family together, fed, and as safe as possible. She even ran various versions of a clinic for those in need, including young mothers. Her friends and associates cleverly played on the differences between communists, rightists, and leftists to delay and avoid North Korean punishments and imprisonment. Machiavelli knows the virtue of the fox or chameleon in wartime. In one part of Lee's account, a family friend, Chung, devised a method to borrow money from a Chinese restaurateur and save an elderly doctor from the communists.
I found touching the story of Lee's family evacuation to Busan during the 1951 "1.4 Hutoe." How beautiful was she, a child herself, to carry a baby who had lost her father, all the way in the cold winter weather?
Just over 70 years ago, the Korean War began. It remains a seminal event for 20th century geopolitics and for today. The continuing division remains because of the abomination that is the North Korean state. Kim Jong-un props himself up with support from a host of pretenders to the mantle of global leadership. The Korean War's legacy is the reward of freedom. The rise of South Korea to advanced nation status and membership in the family of democratic nations should answer anyone who asks why this conflict had to occur. South Korea leads in many indices and is in the top 15 of global nations, including an outstanding record of COVID-pandemic response.
Sacrifices by Yi Kwang-su and the example of his family members are the reasons for the South's actual victory, now and in the future. We must hold up stories such as Yi Kwang-su's for now and forever!
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.
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