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K-POP ACADEMY WEEK 8
As always this week was full of fun and exciting times along with surprising and interesting events. This week we had a talk from a Korean war veteran who served during the Korean war. Although he had been through all those harsh times, he was still such a happy and chirpy person.
Firstly he introduced himself and spoke to all of us about where we came from since a lot of us aren't complete/ or English at all.
It is hard for me to go into every detail he spoke about the war and I wouldn't want to write anything down wrong in the case that I have remembered something wrong, however he went on to talk about what happened just before the war and why there was a war in the first place. I have always wondered why exactly there is a divide in the country and when did this divide happen?
Well we all know Japan was ruling over Korea before the war started and skipping a head a little the man stated that two [important people] were discussing well now what happens to Korea?
They divided Korea. Into two parts. the top - supported by Russia and the bottom by the US. This was to act as a way to merge so that one day they would become one. As I understand it, there's more detail in there but I cannot remember very well. This did not happen however and wars broke out to claim the rest of the country for their own and with support from the Chinese army, North Korea was easily winning the battle.
He went on to tell us that small children were taking up arms to protect their schools and their homes but since South Korea had no armour and no real weapons, fighting back was of not much use, but they continued to fight as best they could. These are very very brave and proud people, I sincerely respect them because you have to be very brave to stand up to someone you know you have little chance of winning against instead of running away and abandoning everything.
Now I cannot remember exactly how but South Korea managed to regain there ground back up to the divide. The man told us about some of the men he worked with and how he saw them die before him and how upsetting that was at the time, but he had no time to grieve for he had to carry on fighting for his country and South Korea.
It was rather hard not to cry when listening to him talk, he hadn't seen his family or friends from back home in such a long time and the people he was having to be around, having to get to know and practically be his family were on the verge of dying any minute.
In all,it was very interesting to listen to and know why there was a divide in the first place and see why it is still there today. When questioned, he believes that one day [and hopes] that Korea will be one again and that the war was one which was worth fighting. Others disagreed, stating that the two are just far too different in their culture and beliefs.
After the talk was over he gave us all a signed copy of his book which I have already started reading and it quite interesting so far :) After that there were some people being interviewed fro Arirang TV which airs in South Korea. They were videoing us the entire time but took a few aside to ask individual questions to.
Now, after THAT I met up with some of my best friends who I hadn't seen in a few months and we were all of to.... SUPERSHOW 5! I'll write a separate blog post about the show and I am eager to go back to the academy next week when we should be doing poetry according to the schedule! so ..Until next week!
Labels: bravery, fighting, korea, korean war, kpop, kpop academy, soldier, veteran, war
DATE:Monday, 11 November 2013
TIME:{05:52 }
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