Changes In Euny Hong's Life

This book is about young Korean girls and its author is Korean as well. It illustrates to young readers that although the girls pictured my look different than they do, the issues and feelings they face are universal.

Caroline Hwang, in writing The Good Daughter, explains the way it feels to be born into a distinct culture that does not correspond with the culture of her heritage. In her writing, she details the mental struggle she deals with in being Korean versus being American. Hwang uses a variety of rhetorical strategies such as metaphors, diction, and rhetorical appeals. In Hwang’s conflictions between differing cultures, she becomes aware of her forgotten Korean culture once a fellow Korean woman points out Hwang’s mispronunciation of her own last name. Hwang, adding in her emotion state post dropping out of graduate school, stating it was a “torn up map for the future,” and it was not only where she was going but who she was, creates a somber tone. Many college students, whom have graduated or dropped out, relate to the emotional distress. She sums her feelings as “staring at the bottom on the abyss.”(16) Attending college is of great importance to not only the

Written by Margaret K. Pai, the Dreams of Two Yi-min narrates the story of her Korean American family with the main focus on the life journeys of her father and mother, Do In Kwon and Hee Kyung Lee. Much like the majority of the pre-World War II immigrants, the author’s family is marked and characterized by the common perception of the “typical” Asian immigrant status in the early 20th century: low class, lack of English speaking ability, lack of transferable education and skills, and lack of knowledge on the host society’s mainstream networks and institutions (Zhou and Gatewood 120, Zhou 224). Despite living in a foreign land with countless barriers and lack of capital, Kwon lead his wife and children to assimilate culturally,

When Simmons first arrived in North Korea she stated that “things went North Korea immediately,” (139) giving the reader an improved understanding of Simmons views on the country. Simmons experiences from her trip proved these notions wrong, and this made Simmons aware that she needed to change her notions. Once she was aware of this, she showed personal growth, by how she was able to alter her notions to fit with these new experiences. Coming into North Korea she never gave the country a chance to change her views, until forced to. What she first saw didn’t help North Korea’s case, “children are assigned their activity or skill,” forced into an “extracurricular-activity jail,” (141) and have no power to change it.

Stetz and Oh indicate although WWII has ended and is now a mass piece of history, the “comfort women” ordeal still exists today. They continue their isolated existence in poverty and poor health. They have not regained their honor nor had their pains eased. These women continue to endure insulting comments made by irresponsible Japanese officials and by neoconservative nationalists, who claim that many Asian women were merely sex workers for money during WWII. As of the end of January in 1998, the top aide to Japanese prime minister Hashimoto suggested that many women became “comfort women” for money and that the Japanese military’s use of these women was justified by the moves of the times. Within a month of the inauguration of South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, a lifelong fighter for democracy

Jun-sang lived a better quality life than most North Koreans. His family lived in a freestanding house with a garden to grow vegetables. In addition, the family also owned five wooden wardrobes containing quality clothing and quilts from Japan. In North Korea, a household with more wardrobes meant the family was prosperous. Jun-sang’s family possessed more appliances than their neighbors. These appliances included: a television, sewing machine, electric fan, and a refrigerator. Jun-sang had a pet dog which was unusual in North Korea. Dogs served the purpose as a meal rather than a companion. Although Jun-sang’s family was prosperous, they were lumped into the hostile class because they were Japanese Korean. There was also a constant fear within Jun--sang that his family would be sent to the gulag. Jun-sang’s father is not hesitant to beat his children with a stick if he thinks it will instill fear in his children to get higher scores in school (Demick, 18). high goals of attending the most prestigious university (Kim Il-sung Uni) are the main goal of Jun-sang and his father (Demick, 18). Rigorous studies and career oriented path leaves no time for girls or dating (Demick, 19). Both of Jun-sang’s parents were born in Japan (Demick, 32). They were part of “a cross section of Korean society” made up of people who were forced to support Japan in war efforts, high ranking people that have gone there to study, or immigration workers (Demick, 32). Propaganda stirred up an image

“Mom, why is she so dark like fillipino if she’s korean like me?”, “I thought asians were suppose to be smart”, “Since your last name is Kim are you related to Kim Jong Un?”. These were some of the comments I’ve heard growing up in, my whole life. Not just from America where people see me not as a true American but also from Korea, where there is no ethnicity difference. Growing up, I learned to understand it was because I looked different and racism is a concept that is inevitable, but the summer of seventh grade I visited Korea, it changed everything. It had been a while since I last visited Korea, I had been so young I could not remember anything. But when I went that summer when I was older, I was shocked. In a land where I thought I belonged to with my race, was doing the opposite of what I had to learn to overcome in America. In a place where I thought I looked the same still had reasons to accept me. Even though I was the same race as the people there, I still wasn’t good enough. My skin was to dark, I was too big, my face was too round, and I didn’t look ‘asian’. Racism had been consistently plaguing by my side since the beginning.

It is 1940 when the japanese have taken over korea and world war 2 was happening and the and the Author uses this situation to explain the hard times of a family. When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park the lesson do not forget who you are and come from. And to show this In the the Text on page 14 It states “Never forget Keep it in your minds always remember what the flag looks like and what it means” The theme ties with this because the Uncle is trying to remind Sue-Hee and Tae-yul that they are not Japanese but Korean. In the 1930s Japan began a program to erase the Korean national identity by banning the use of the Korean language in schools and requiring all Koreans to adopt Japanese.” this is not like the them because this

John’s upbringing can be paralleled to Ancient and Modern Day Korean Ideals on shame and disregard to someone in the community who goes against the norm in society. Like Korean and surrounding Asian cultures there are customs on how one should behave within morally.” Asian shame is intricately tied to the fear of rejection” (Louie MA, LMHC). If someone goes against the grain of what is expected of the population, then they become an outcast, much like John has been raised up to feel from his community because of his mother’s promiscuity.

Suzy’s inability to find her identity reinforces itself in her ineptitude in keeping a steady job. She provides a list of her previous occupations, none of which lasted more than a matter of months. Intriguingly, the one job that she has stuck with is that of an interpreter. Despite her detachment to either American or Korean culture, she willingly delves into a job where she is forced to see and feel the different aspects of both cultures through language. What appeals to her is the fact that, “Both sides need her desperately, but she in fact, belongs to neither” (15). She finds safety in limbo, without the weights of cultural formalities and responsibilities looming over her. However, she does feel sympathy for the Koreans because she

In his article “Distilling My Korean American Identity,” he explores the process of self-discovery of identity from his teenage years to his college life, and with the help from his significant other. Being Asians in the United States, Gonzalo and Patrick S. both have had to confront the major issue of identity conflicts in different ways. These were due to the assimilation stress, generational gap and racial discrimination that happened within their family and school lives.

Cho refers another interviewee’s words “ South Korea is a ‘man’s society,’” this reflects the fact that many Korean-American males have gained the sense of masculine status that emasculated in American society. (Cho, 224) I agree with what the author thinks the main reason why many Korean-American males incline to stay longer in South Korea after their one-year English teaching contracts with the English institutions is because the high masculine status in the South Korean society. The Korean society makes Korean-American males feel more powerful in South Korea than in the United States, this can be considered as the basic element that consists and shapes the feeling of privilege to Korean American migrants in South

"South Korea is a country with a population of 50,924,172 and counting" ("The World Factbook: KOREA, SOUTH"). It is a nation that has been the center of many tug-of-wars. It is a nation that has had to fight in order to survive independent. Years ago, no one thought much of this country. So what is it about this little place now, that sets it apart and breaks it out of the mold of just another Asian country? Though South Korea may be a small country, the style of cuisine, community culture, and generosity are just

Elllen’s female identity made her an alienated participant in the work place in Korea, whose culture is dominantly masculine. The acceptance of her came in and took responsibility as the senior member of the project was early based on a compromise of her obtaining of required skills, however, her identity as a female was constantly reemphasized in the company’s social events.

My return to Korea in the summer of 2001 was nothing short of a culture shock. I was in a country I thought I had learned by heart. It was the country I always rooted my identity and pride from. I wasn’t ready for the shock. I