A Korean independence movement led by Kim Gu 김구 was underway in China. Kim Gu was a Korean politician, educator, leader of the Korean Independence Movement against the Japanese occupation of Korea, and a reunification activist. At this time, Kim Il Sung 김일성 was also involved in communist activities, becoming a captain for the Soviet Red Army until the end of World War II in 1945.
Grandpa's father instructed him to go to China, but also that he should not meet with the communist movement of Kim Il Sung. Grandma was still in Kaechon and Grandpa was in Pyongyang, North Korea, waiting to go to China. Because his father knew that Grandpa would be leaving to China soon, his father thought it would be a wise idea to send Grandma to see Grandpa before he left. When she saw him for the first time since his departure for the navy, she saw him in the far back room of the house. She said he was not himself - he looked pitiful and didn't look like a human being. He had struggled so much that he didn't even seem happy to see her. Chunil, their first child, was still alive at this time. Grandpa shared with us that this was when our Aunt Younghee 영희 was conceived. Unfortunately, Chunil died before Aunt Youngee was born.
As he was anticipating his leave to China, on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima, and World War II ended. Korea was emancipated from Japanese rule and Grandpa did not have to escape to China. At the end of World War II, North and South Korea was divided by the 38th parallel north. From August 1945, North Korea was ruled by a Soviet Civil Authority established by the Soviet Army, previously known as the Red Army. South Korea was backed by the United States and Lee Seungman 이승만 became the very first president of South Korea.
After the end of World War II, Grandpa's father, Park Jongsik, escaped to South Korea with his second wife and family. Now that North Korea was under communist rule, possessions were being taken away from families. Many families began migrating to the south. Grandpa owned a western-style house (as opposed to a Korean traditional house) in North Korea. Grandpa worked in Pyongyang for "a long time", for a department store Pyongbaek 평백, before leaving to South Korea. I'm guessing it was about 5 years. It seems they left around 1950 or 1951. The North Korean attack on South Korea (Korean War), supported by Stalin, was underway, and bombs were falling everywhere. The family bought a boat to escape.
Grandpa first went to Seoul, then took his Grandma (Seunghyun Noh) and Grandpa (Euijeong Park), and then came back to North Korea to take Grandma, Younghee (Mike and Susie's mom), Changhyun (Danny and John's dad), and great grandma Moonchul Lee. They had been taking refuge in the country and mountains for months. As they were preparing to leave the next day, Grandpa arrived and the family was able to come down together.
On the way down, Aunt Younghee was shot in the arm - she was only 6 years old, and kept saying she couldn't go on anymore. Grandma was carrying a bag of rice and Uncle Changyun on her back, while great grandma Moonchul carried Aunt Younghee. They remember eating the South Korean soldiers' leftovers. When they had finished, they asked the soldiers to take them in their trucks, but because they were North Koreans, the soldiers wouldn't take them. Grandma said, even though they were North Koreans, they weren't communists but democrats. She remembers the arduous journey and the starvation. When asked how old she was, she said she was around my age, 25 years old.
She recalls their travels to Pusan, South Korea. They rode on top of a cargo train during the night and tied all their things to the roof. They were hungry, cold, tired and nauseous, but Grandma held everyone close and tried to keep them from falling off the train. The smoke from the train filled their lungs. She remembers trying to wake up Grandpa's brother (Sam's dad) to prevent him from falling. Although it was a cold night, they passed through a 2 kilometer tunnel and it became very warm, even hot, from all the smoke.
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