The Korean War: A Civilian's Recollection

In the so-called "Free World," the Korean War is commonly referred to as the "Forgotten War." However, in China and Korea, this war altered the destinies of countless families, and reshaped the history of the entire Asia-Pacific region. My family is one of the countless families profoundly impacted by this war.

In the first half of the 20th century, my grandfather and great uncle migrated to northeastern China in search of work after completing their carpentry apprenticeships. While in the northeast, they discovered that there were better job opportunities across the river in Japanese-occupied Korea, and soon moved south to Huichon, Korea. In 1943, my grandfather protected fellow Chinese worker from harassment by Japanese-backed Korean criminals, which led to his persecution. In order to protect his own safety, he fled to Seoul. In 1945, Korea was liberated, but due to the partitioning of the country, my grandfather and great uncle never had the chance to reunite.

My aunt (cousin), Zhong Chunxia, was born in 1943 in Huichon, Korea. In 1950, when the Korean War broke out, she and her family narrowly escaped death and, with the help of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, embarked on a difficult journey back to China, eventually settling in Shenyang. After years of investigation and efforts, we finally reconnected with our relatives in Shenyang in 2000.

I am honored to have my aunt join me for an interview to share some lesser-known stories about the Korean War from the perspective of an ordinary citizen.

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