My grandparents were living in Pyongyang, now in North Korea, when the Korean War began. To escape the war, they traveled to Busan by sitting on the rooftop of a cramped train along with many other fleeing families. Decades later, I was born in Busan and grew up absorbing my grandfather’s Pyongyang dialect and my grandmother's traditional northern recipes.
After college, I moved to the U.S. to study education. Now, I work as the outreach coordinator at the Nam Center for Korean Studies at the University of Michigan. I have two Korean-American children, Einn (9) and Euna (4). I tell them stories about the Korean people's resilience and sense of community, also teaching them that one day, South and North Korea will reunite peacefully. I’m thrilled that Honest History is introducing young readers to stories from writers who share a deep pride and love for Korean history and culture.
Dr. Minyoung Song