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.”

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 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.

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.

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.

Joanna Kim Selby recounts a life shaped by war, migration, and service. Her journey reflects resilience and a lifelong commitment to helping others.

Born in North Korea during a time of upheaval, Joy Lee Gebhard’s life has been shaped by war, separation, and an enduring search for family. Her story reflects both profound loss and the rare possibility of reunion.

Surviving war and displacement, Jung Ja Lee reflects on a life built across countries and generations. Her story carries both resilience and warmth, grounded in her love for family.

Raised by relatives and shaped by the trauma of war, Chown Soon Cho endured a life of hardship from an early age. Today, she finds her greatest joy in her children and grandchildren.

From post-war Korea to building a life in the United States, Lana Yu’s journey is shaped by resilience and family. Her story centers on acceptance and the importance of support.

A life defined by constant change, Kyung Wan Kim reflects on hardship, migration, and reinvention. Her perspective is grounded in resilience and learning to move with life’s flow.

In this Letters to My Hometown reflection, Hyung Chang Kim recounts his father’s life—marked by resistance, survival, and an enduring longing for Hwanghae Province. Through inherited memory and grief, his letter reflects how the sorrow of division can pass across generations, shaping both identity and hope.