From Japanese occupation to war and displacement, Sun Ok Hwang’s life was shaped by survival and constant movement across Korea. She reflects on building a new life with her husband through shared experience, finding strength in family across generations.

Across three generations, the Rheem family reflects on how war, displacement, and Korea’s modern history reshaped their lives and relationships. Their conversation reveals how, despite loss, family remains a lasting source of identity, memory, and what they call a “network of love.”

From a forty day escape to the loss of his father and brother, In Whan Rheem recounts a journey defined by both tragedy and faith. His reflections trace how devotion sustained him through war and displacement, ultimately guiding him toward a life of ministry abroad.

Tae-hyok Kim and his family reflect on a life shaped by displacement, memory, and the need to document what might otherwise be lost. Across generations, they show how storytelling can serve as both healing and a foundation for identity.

As a child, Michelle Kim Rogers imagined America as a place of abundance, only to discover the sacrifice and labor that defined her family’s journey. Through memory and reflection, she traces how resilience, hardship, and unexpected compassion shaped her path.

As a child in Pyongyang, Won Yun remembers skating on the Daedong River before war transformed his world. Now joined by his daughter in law Cristina and granddaughter Emily, he reflects on survival, separation, and a brief reunion that revealed both the fragility and persistence of family bonds.

With only one hundred dollars and a one way ticket, Won Yun began again in the United States after years of displacement. Looking back, he sees his life not just as a story of survival, but as a reminder that the people we walk with shape the legacy we leave behind.

From studying vocal music to running one of the first Korean owned dry cleaners, Chung Kun Lim recounts a journey defined by endurance and reinvention. Her story reveals the quiet trade offs of immigration, where opportunity for the next generation often comes at a personal cost.

Rosa Kwon and her parents reflect on lives shaped by war, migration, and the demands of starting over in the United States. Through candid conversation, they confront years of miscommunication and rediscover connection through shared truth and understanding.

Crossing a frozen river and walking alongside thousands fleeing war, Jean Yoon Kwon witnessed the chaos that defined a generation. Her reflections preserve both the beauty of what came before and the lasting imprint of what was lost.

From wartime Japan to Seoul and eventually Chicago, David Soon Ho Kwon recounts a journey marked by discrimination, escape, and reinvention. His memories trace the risks his mother took to protect him, revealing a story grounded in resilience and quiet bravery.

Joined by his children Bora and Bob, Chang Soon Lee reflects on a lifetime shaped by separation, silence, and faith. Their conversation reveals how forgiveness and vulnerability can transform even the most distant relationships into a lasting legacy.

A childhood marked by colonial rule and war led Chang Soon Lee toward a life of faith and service. His journey from Korea to the United States traces how adversity became purpose through ministry, community building, and care for immigrants.

Spring mulberries, mountain air, and the sound of cuckoo birds remain vivid in the memories of In Sook Lee, even as war disrupted her early life. Her journey reveals how resilience and curiosity carried her beyond the limits placed on her, toward a future in the United States.

Gil Sung Jun and his daughter Grace Jun reflect on how a history marked by war and loss shaped their understanding of love. Through honesty and reflection, they reveal how connection is not always spoken but still deeply felt and carried forward.

From wartime uncertainty to starting over in the United States, Jae Hee Jun recounts a journey defined by devotion and endurance. Her story reveals how faith guided her through loss, migration, and the work of building a home and community.

Born in South Hamgyong in 1947, Gil Sung Jun reflects on a life shaped by loss, displacement, and survival after his father was killed during the Korean War. From a harrowing refugee journey to a chance sustained by an American sponsor, his story traces how faith, gratitude, and endurance became a legacy passed on to future generations.

In this Letters to My Hometown conversation, Vana Kim reflects with her daughter and granddaughter on a family history shaped by exile and division. Tracing their roots to her grandfather Lee Jong-man, the conversation explores how the weight of separation carries forward and how “heart connections” endure across generations.

In this Letters to My Hometown conversation, Haesoon Koh and Moohong Roh reflect with their son Michael on grandparents separated from family during the Korean War. Their shared memories trace displacement, resilience, and a hope that the next generation might serve as a bridge toward reconciliation between North and South.

Vana Kim reflects on a life shaped by war, exile, and a search for healing across continents. From Korea to Brazil to Canada, her journey reveals how personal transformation became the foundation for her lifelong commitment to peace.