Kong Seon Kang
From Korean War to Peaceful Canada
By Kong Seon Kang
Korean War Veterans Association
My three months life under the communist occupation was fear itself. I spent most of time inside the shelter to escape communist’s forceful conscription, because once found there was no way to return home. Many of my friends in the neighbour had been caught and taken away to somewhere still at large.
I was born in 1931 at Kaesong Korea located just south of 38th parallel and grew up there until war broke out in June, 1950. It was about 4 am, Sunday, June 25 when I was awakened by roaring artillery fire and endless gunshots outside. North Korean army crossed all along the 38th parallel and advanced to the south almost without resistance. This was the beginning of Korean War which lasted more than three years bringing about heavy casualties and devastating destructions of peaceful peninsula.
The enemy captured Seoul, capital of Korea, within three days and kept on moving toward south. It seemed that Communist occupation of entire peninsula was at hand. But fortunately General Macarthur’s successful Inchon landing operation on September 15th turned around the war situation in our favour. Seoul was recaptured on Sep 28 and Kaesong was recovered at the beginning of October.
Here is one interesting story. A few of my classmates who took side with the communists searched every house to find youngsters for conscription. As my house was so small there was no place to hide. I decided to move to my father’s workplace where I thought I could find a safe shelter. But to get there I had to walk about twenty minutes from my house. Communists with red arm band stood everywhere along the way. I donned mother’s clothes to disguise as a woman and I reached the destination safely and stayed there for three months until restored by United Nations Forces.
After the recovery there stationed Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, English Infantry Battalion of British Commonwealth Division at my home town, Kaesong. 1) They recruited a few interpreters to communicate with Korean porters they hired for carrying ammunitions and other supplies at the front line. My English was not good enough but I passed the interview anyhow and got a job as an interpreter. All the neighbours and friends envied my English military uniform.
United Nations Forces and ROK Army crossed the 38th parallel and advanced toward the Yalu River, border of Korea and China. Our counterattack seemed to be working well but unexpected human-wave tactics of Chinese intervention forced the UN Forces retreat to south again. Our British forces also had to move to south, crossed Imjin River and stationed at Uijungbu where hand-to-hand combat against Chinese troops took place at night.
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1) Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, an infantry battalion sustained 69 dead, 319 wounded, missing or prisoners of war.
It was very cold and windy when our British battalion arrived at Uijungbu. As soon as they set up tents they set fire on stove to get warm and complained about the brutal cold of Korea. As I felt so awkward to be there with them I walked out of tent. The winter night was very quiet and bright by moonlight. I walked into a straw-thatched house at sight to find an empty room to sleep over. I spread my sleeping bag on the cold floor, crawled into it and fell asleep immediately.
Sometime after midnight I heard sound of flute in distance followed by the sound of gunfire and grenades approaching. It was Chinese attack. The outside became chaotic mixed with gunshots and grenade blow-ups. As I thought staying in the room would not be safe I crawled down to the bottom of the floor. As I expected two guys broke into the house, jumped on the floor right above me, smashed into the room and left after a while. By their accent I could easily recognize they were Chinese. It was so cold but I had no choice but wait until the outside situation calm down.
When I stepped out of the house I almost fainted of the horrible sight; dead bodies all over, wounded soldiers groaning with pain, burnt-down tents still smoking. Chinese bodies with white knapsacks were all teenagers too young to die. Why should these innocent youngsters lie dead in the freezing field of unknown country? For whom? They were enemy, but I felt pity for them as human being same as me.
Casualties of British soldiers were heavy as well. A young officer, Lt. P, a friend of mine, lay dead bleeding of head injury on the snow-covered ground. I had seen him kissing the picture of his newly wed wife only the day before. How would the pretty young lady overcome the sorrow of his death? I witnessed the cruel consequence of war with my own eyes first time in my life. This stupid war should end as soon as possible and never happen again.
I left Kaesong with British troops leaving all families behind simply saying ‘so long’ and ‘see you soon’. I never imagined this farewell to become a permanent separation until today. I had no communication with them for the past 67 years.
After a serious battle which brought heavy casualties on both sides, we moved to Sosa where I met a girl, Sonya, who fled from Pyongyang, North Korea, all alone. She wanted to join the army and work as a seamstress until she could return home. By my recommendation she got the job, stayed with me all along the front line throughout the war and finally married me in 1956 three years after armistice. In 2010 I published a book of wartime love stories with her titled “Korean War and My Romance”.
Sonya was a woman of strong will power. She carried the heavy sewing machine on her back all the way from Pyongyang when she fled. She faced all the obstacles and hardships throughout war-torn front-line life but never discouraged. Moreover, her outstanding sewing skill had been widely recognized among the officers.
Sonya and I experienced countless dangerous incidents throughout the war, but we enjoyed some romantic relationship as well on the other hand. We saved substantial amount of money as we had no time and place to spend it. The war did not end but became a stand still all along the existing front line.
Sonya and I agreed that we had to give up the hope of returning home. We discussed seriously about our future and decided to quit the job and look for a new life in the civilian society. After I left the job I set two major goals to achieve; to fulfill the obligatory military service in the ROK army and to start unfinished study for a university degree.
Two years of life with British Army was extremely valuable to me by all means. Proficiency in English language, learning the western way of life and most of all, meeting my fiance, Sonya. I have many stories and episodes with her, but I don’t want to repeat here as they are already compiled in my book. Sonya left for Seoul to find a job and I took the examination of interpreter officer course of ROK Army. After 4 weeks of military training I was commissioned as a first lieutenant and ordered to report to Capital ROK Division for a new post of interpreter.
My job was to accompany US officer of KMAG (Korean Military Advisory Group) and assist communicating with Korean officers in military operation. I had no problem to do this job because I was well aware of military terminology through the life with British forces. At the Division command post a briefing took place every morning in attendance of all commanding officers and KMAG advisors to receive a report about daily war situation. When a staff officer conducts briefing an interpreter officer should stand beside him and interpret it for US KMAG advisors. It was not easy because wide range of military terminology including complicated medical terms showed up unexpectedly.
One day due to the absence of exclusive briefing interpreter I was asked to do the job in his stead. After the briefing I was told to come and see Division Commander. He and senior adviser said my interpretation was satisfactory so I was told to work exclusively for both of them from then on. I was allowed to eat at the KMAG officers mess, stay at division commander’s quarters and provided me with a jeep for my own use. I was treated like a high ranking officer.
Here is one episode of my embarrassment at a briefing. One day I had been doing interpretation job with no problem as usual. However, by the time Col. Harris, Senior Adviser, finished his remarks he suddenly made all the US officers laugh with his funny jokes at the end. All Korean officers stared at me waiting for my interpretation. But I could not understand his joke. I didn’t know what to do. I was at a loss. At that moment a wit flashed through my head like lightning. I said. “Gentlemen, Col. Harris said something very funny, but I cannot understand his joke. Please make a big laugh to save my face.” All of a sudden the audience laughed aloud clapping their hands. Everybody applauded me as an excellent witty interpreter and all the US advisers admired my perfect translation with such short words.
On September 27, 1953 armistice treaty was signed and all the military actions ended. Sonya established herself as a career woman in Seoul working as a manager of PX, Eighth Army. I was transferred to National Defense Institute in Seoul immediately after marriage and promoted to army captain. My job was translation of English military books into Korean. One of the major books that I had translated is “Makers of Modern Strategy” that is still kept in the library. Sonya and I bought a small house in the suburbs and enjoyed a very happy marriage life.
While I was working in Seoul I decided to complete my second goal, completing university course. In the morning I worked as a translator in military uniform and in the afternoon I attended law class of the university in civilian clothes. Finally in 1959 I successfully received the degree of bachelor of laws at the Seoul National University. At the graduation ceremony most of graduates attended with their parents and I did with my wife and two children. Sonya was so proud of me that she gave me a big kiss as a gift of congratulation which was more valuable than anything else; I never forget. Without her help and encouragement I could have never achieved the honour.
In 1962 I was honourably discharged from the army after 9 years of military services when I was aide-de-camp and interpreter officer for three-star General Choi, Commander of 3rd Army Corps. As a civilian I entered a trading company, worked very hard, and promoted to general manager at last. I had three lovely children by then. They had excellent school records. Whole family enjoyed better-off life. One day I asked Sonya about the idea of immigrating to US or Canada for the future of children. Both of us had the advantage of understanding English while all other friends could not even think of it due to the language barrier. We knew it would be a big challenge to move to the unknown country, but we made up our minds to go ahead. I searched detailed information about two countries and chose Canada because Canada was better than US both in education and social security. Most of all I liked the national policy of multiculturalism free of discrimination.
I flew to San Francisco with business passport of my company, transferred to the plane heading to Toronto, obtained a visa of three weeks for Niagara tour and went to immigration office to apply for landed immigrant status. On the day of personal interview they reviewed my English skill, financial status, my plan in Canada etc. My application was granted and I was told to take physical examination. After 9 months waiting the certificate of landed immigrant status was in my hand. I informed this good news to Sonya and told her to prepare for the immigration to Canada.
After my family of five landed in Canada I bought a small house, registered children for school and started looking for a business for living. Fortunately children did not take long to be accustomed to school and seemed to be getting along well with friends. We opened a convenience store and Sonya had no problem in serving customers because she had experience of running PX in Korea. We settled down easily comparing with others who had difficulty in language. I worked as a credit union manager while Sonya continued to run the store. Gradual improvement of our living standard naturally made us possible to make use of more leisure like traveling and golfing. Sonya and I travelled to Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, Caribbean Islands and cruise to Mediterranean and several golf tours. All three children successfully graduated from school and got married. After all I believe our immigration to Canada was the right choice.
Through my 40 years of living in Ontario I had been actively involved in the voluntary services for Korean community including Korean-Canadian Scholarship Foundation, See-All Korean Language School, Toronto Korean Credit Union, Korean Canadian Cultural Association and Toronto Korean Golf Club as the chairman of each organization. Through my continued service for the community I found myself worth living and I got more closely acquainted with wide range of people.
Sonya was very healthy woman free of disease. One day when she returned from golfing she complained of some abdominal pain. After close examination the growth of cancer cells was detected underneath omentum. 2) Surgical operation was conducted but it was too late for healing treatment. One year after the surgery she passed away at the age of 57. Her death gave a great shock to me because I had never imagined my life without her. She is resting in peace at York Cemetery in Toronto waiting for me to join her when I am ready.
I moved to Vancouver seven years ago to live close to my children who have been living in Vancouver for a long time. As I live alone and getting old I thought it would be the right choice for the rest of my life. I like the mild weather and friendly atmosphere of Korean community of Vancouver. Especially I am very happy to be affiliated with Korean War Veterans Association. I go to the office of the Association located in Burnaby on Mondays to enjoy meeting and chatting with friends and enjoying lunch together.
I am very proud of the Association which published a book of war stories written by 29 of our members and 10 other notables a few years ago. 3) I wrote a couple of stories and helped some translation work. The books have been distributed mostly in Vancouver and gave deep impression to the community. It is regrettable that non-Koreans and younger generations are unable to read it. The publication ceremony was held on September 15, 2012, in commemoration of General MacArthur’s successful Inchon landing operation, under the presence of more than 200 guests including Senator Yonah Martin and many other distinguished guests. I think it is one of the most valuable works the Association ever made in Vancouver.
I am very pleased that Canadian government finally, after so many years, came to recognize that Korean War is not the “forgotten war” any more. We are very grateful to the Veterans Affairs Canada which provides various kinds of benefits we need including services of dental treatment, hearing aids, glasses, medical prescriptions and even housekeeping. The number of Korean War veterans in lower mainland is 86 as of today and average age is 86. We anticipate the number will decrease as years go by. The existence of our Association will not last forever. I urge my colleagues that we should arrange more frequent opportunities to get together with our Canadian veterans so that we get acquainted with one another more closely.
We are much obliged to Mr. Bob Orrick for his deep interest in Korea and his effort of writing a book about Korea and Korean Community. I believe his book will greatly contribute to have our younger generations and non-Koreans realize the real aspects of Korea and Korean community.
Canada is a great country. Even though Korea has achieved amazing prosperity I have no intention to return permanently except a short visit once in a while. As for me my homeland is Canada now. I am going to spend the rest of my life here in Canada.
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2) Omentum: a fold of peritoneum extending from the stomach to adjacent abdominal organs.
3) Stories of the Korean War (printed in Korean) with the Forward penned by Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada with greetings from Senator Yonah Martin, Derek Corrigan, Mayor, Burnaby and Yeon Ho Choi, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, Vancouver, BC
Mr. Bob Orrick’s review on my story
A moving story tinged with bravery, heroics, survival, determination, love, deep thought, marriage, children, migration, travel, untimely death of a much loved spouse and eventually, resettlement. A human interest story that needs to be told to both Koreans too young to have personal knowledge of the Korean War and Canadians, young and old, who know little about the War that was a turning point in world affairs.
Can anyone who has not experienced the terror of war up close at age 19 years as Seon Kang did, understand fully the horror of war and the devastation that follows soon afterward? In Canada, personal liberty and freedom are taken as a given and accepted without much regard to their worth; however, for those who had to scramble and crawl and hide both day and night to escape the enemy that seemed to be everywhere at all times, liberty and freedom become much more than mere words – they become the catalyst for personal survival and are not taken lightly.