It may be an interesting idea if our alumni share the stories in regard to what they were doing
on the day, June 25, 1950, the War broke out.
Every one of them will have a story to tell, some of which undoubtedly are too traumatic to tell.
Nontheless, it may well be worthwhile reading and listening for our second and third generation
children and grandchildren, like the young Korean man who was interivewed.
I felt proud of what the young man said and was doing on June 25, visiting the Korean War Memorial.

I was in Seoul living in Myung-Dong near Si-Gong-Kwan Theater,
having been just a happy kid who was trying to memorize the multiplication table in math.
In the morning of June 25, 1950, we also woke up hearing the sounds of guns from the north.
As usual, my father didn't say anything but my mother seemed to be in a deep worry.

I think it was next day, June 26, that our class teacher got our class of about 50 students
on the roof deck of the Chung-Gye Primary School.
There used be a large flat concrete replica of the entire Korean peninsula,
and we gathered around it. He, then, quietly announced that the school was closing.
He said we should go back to home and he would notify us when the school could open again.
He said he would not know when it was going to be.
Of course, I never heard from him again.

We didn't even realize how serious, sad, and fateful the situation was to be....
We thought we would be out of school just a few days.
I don't know why he took us to the roof deck of the school.
But from there, we were looking to the northern sky where the sounds of guns coming from.

We came home early from the school and, except only one friend in the class,
I have never seen the teacher and the other classmates again since.
That was the end of my attendance at the Chung-Gye primary school.

On the same day or next, a few north Korean fighter flew over my house and
machine guns were fired either from the ground or from the fighter.
South Korea was totally helpless then.

Of course, as you all know, Seoul was under North Korean regime in the darkness of June 28.
When I woke up in the morning of June 29, the street was red with red arm and head bands.
Soon, we left Myun-Dong home that we've never returned again.

That was the beginning of the eternal wandering life of my family and myself.
Even today, I still consider myself to be a wanderer away from home.
I really don't mind to be a wanderer though.
Life was a bit more tougher but it could have been a blessing in disguise.
Somewhere along, I have come to believe that it's in my blood.
At a page of the Supreme Being's recipe book, my dish might have been prescribed as such.
I believe one has to be in love with his fate, good or bad, and make the best out of it.

I am neither unhappy nor sad about what happened to our life afterwards.
My family and I took it well and walked over defiantly whatever needed to be overcome.
But, for some reason, thinking about it makes my eyes warm and wet.
Why does it do that again and again?

I don't know why these dreadful memories are still so vivid in my mind
as if it happened just yesterday.... Or, maybe it was yesterday.

Dr. Lee, many thanks to you for giving me a chance to reminisce an early chapter in my past.
It's always a reflection of eternal preciousness. So is yours, I am sure.

"과거의 아픈 녁사를
이즈면
그 민조근
멸망 하게 된다. "

증말로 귀한 말쌈임네다레.
6. 25 뿐마니 아이라 "닐제 강점기" 시대도 니저서는 아이 된다고
강려키 미쏘이다레. 감사.

Thank you, Webmaster,
for your sharing with us your recollections and feelings.
We and other alumni can easily fill all these pages with stories like ours.
 
Thank you, Dr. Han,
for always reminding all of us where we Koreans come from and
where we Koreans have been.