I grew up with two different identities. My father immigrated to America earlier in his life acclimating to life here. My mother on the other hand moved to America later on to attend college. When I was born I was raised with two different cultural views. My father had a stronger American influence in my life whereas my mother had a stronger Korean cultural presence. I grew up having to intertwine the two, but something they both instilled me was the importance of Korean culture. No matter how comfortable my father was with America, he never made me forget where I was from and where my passion and dedication stemmed from. As a first generation Korean American, I had a duty to uphold my Korean values and beliefs.
To talk about the Korean diaspora, I must discuss the hero of the movie ‘Jeronimo’, which I watched at the suggestion of my father, his grandfather, Im Cheon-Taek, and Jae-Hyung, whom I found while learning about Independence activist Kim Gu at a Korean school. They are representatives of the Korean diaspora, and I think they are the ones who give us the correct direction on how we should live in a foreign land without losing our identity.
Nowadays, there are many people who immigrate to other countries in search of a wider world to learn and experience more for various reasons, but it was different in the past. In particular, in the late Joseon Dynasty when it was difficult to even live on a meal, most of them had no choice but to emigrate abroad to escape overseas for labor immigration or political reasons.
Lim Eun-jo’s father, Im CheonTaek, did the same. He emigrated to assist his parents with labor when he was only two years old. The advertisements in the newspapers at
the time were very plausible. After being deceived by the advertisements offering housing in warm weather, lm Cheon-Taek chose the path of labor immigration and arrived in Mexico after a long voyage.
Contrary to the advertisement, under surveillance and pressure, he led a sad life of a worker stabbed and cut on a cactus farm. It was difficult and became even harder in Cuba, where they migrated to Cuba in search of a better life as the years passed. Labor immigrants who lived such a difficult life ate less and sparingly and sent their independence funds to Manchuria.
Although in a difficult situation they found ways to fund the support and independent movement in efforts to takedown Itō Hirobumi, someone who negatively impacted Koreans. Lim Eun-jo’s father, Im Cheon-Taek, lived just like that. At that time, labor migrants, who were paid a daily wage of 1 dollar, saved a spoonful of rice every day, and the amount of money they spent together was about 2,000 dollars at that time.
Jeronimo Lim, who was raised by such a father, was born as the eldest of 9 children of Mr. Im Cheon-taek.
While attending law school in Havana, he joined the Communist Party with Fidel Castro, who later became famous as a Cuban revolutionary, and participated in the Cuban socialist revolution.
As Cuban he made right upon his identity, but even better as he grew he
strengthened his Korean identity just the same. In 1995, he was invited to the ‘Grand Festival of the Korean People’ to commemorate the 50th anniversary of liberation, and he visited his homeland for the first time in his life, which his father always wanted.
Jeronimo lived as Cuban for the entirety of his life but the return to his homeland allowed him to realize that his power and characteristics came from his Korean identity similar to his father. His desire for Cuban independence stemmed from his Korean traits. Till his death, Jeronimo worked as a leader of the Cuban Korean community, consta ntly protecting their korean identities by searching out for other Cuban Koreans, registering them as koreans, making Korean school and Korean organizations with the sole priority of maintaining Cuban Korean culture.
Who is Jae Hyung Choi?
Born the son of a slave father and a mother who was a courtesan, Jae Hyung Choi fled to Primorsky Krai
with his family to escape the world of poverty and discrimination. He also received several medals from the Russian government in recognition of his contributions to Russian society. Even when he lived in a foreign land where he was wealthy, respected, and recognized, he did not forget his homeland, Korea.
He used most of his wealth to fund independence, and organized the Donguiwhea, Russia’s first voluntary military unit, to lead the voluntary movement around Primorsky Krai. He also worked as the president of the Daedong Gongbo newspaper and devoted himself to the Patriotic Enlightenment Movement through the media. He lived his life as a Russian, as a spiritual supporter of Koreans living in Russia, and as the best Korean diaspora who gave everything for the independence of Korea until he passed away.
They originally left the country because of the difficult situations and hardships they face. Why did they never forget about their homeland; why did they continue to support Korea?
What did the country really mean to them? The country that people like Im Cheon-Taek, Jerainmo Lim, and Jae Hyung Choi wanted to go to, but could not go to, was the object of longing, and for that reason they could never be separate from Korea. It was a part of them, it made them who they were.
Their hardships and perseverance came from Korea, therefore they could never forget that.
Without such people, would Korea truly exist today? It was because of their support that Korea is the great country it is today.
Until recently, I feel like I was neither fully Korean nor fully
American, and my life in the United States felt fuzzy. My father and mother always emphasized that I should not forget that I am Korean, but what did that mean, why was it so important, why did I have to know my past so intently?
The experiences of visiting my home country through Jikji camp and OKFriends, cultural experiences that I was able to participate in through Korean school, were very different from my previous experiences in Korea where I went to see my grandfather and grandmother. Typically staying in Korea with my grandparents I only get to see the big name places such as Seoul or Gangnam. I never truly get to see Korea.
When I was given the chance to partake in Jikiji camp and OKFriends, I still can’t forget the heartbreaking feeling when I met countless Korean foreigners living in a foreign land like me through the program. We were all engulfing ourselves within the culture, visiting the rural area and comparing that to obviously the big names cities. Through the programs I was able to receive a firsthand account of the environment and see Korea in its purest form, a form that portrayed its rich history.
The people at the program were just like me, people who had never visited these historical spots, these spots blooming with authentic Korean heritage. We all grew up in different places and became one so easily because no matter what variation we possibly were, we were all just Koreans. The visit to my home country on my own, not only gave me an opportunity to solidify my identity as a Korean, but allowed me to be proud that I was.
My experiences and my history related to diaspora teaches me the value of Korean culture. It emphasizes the importance of the Korean school I attend. It gives me strength at an American school, to never falter in confidence about being Korean.
Understanding my past places value on going with intent so that I can pass on the knowledge I have and be proud of my integrity as a Korea. As a first generation Korean American, I will never have the memories of Korea that my parents and grandparents had but by taking these experiences, the history of the Korean diaspora and my passion for wanting to learn more about Korea, allows me to pass on the knowledge to the next generation. As a Korean America, I believe that is my duty.
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by PRESIDENT Jun Ho Moon GALA CHAIRS Young Hwan Kim / Kang Won Lee GALA MODERATORS Hai Wha Park / Jung Hyun Kim CHAIRMAN Jong Hwan No HANSIK IN NEW YORK, THE HARMONY OF TRADITIONAL & MODERN HANSIK
