Hee Yung Chang
Ms. Hee Yung Chang was born in Seoul, Korea, experiencing the Korean War as a young child. She recalls crossing the Han River with her family, escaping to Busan, and waiting for her brothers in combat to return home. Her brothers came back, but unfortunately, her mother passed away suddenly shortly after. Facing the sudden hardships brought on by the war, she had to also sacrifice attending college despite her love for learning and academia.
Ms. Chang eventually came to America with her husband for the sake of their children’s education and future. She describes the hardships her family had to face as immigrants – struggling with discrimination, multiple jobs, and homesickness. However, she believes they ultimately made the right choice, reflecting with pride and gratitude on how her children adjusted well to American life and grew up as Korean Americans.