<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>The tension caused by North Korea artillery

attack on the South Korean island of <span style=

“line-height: 13px;”>Yeonpyeong on Nov. 23 spread far beyond the

feuding nations. For Yong

Chin Pak, senior lecturer in kinesiology and instructor/coach of

Iowa State’s martial arts clubs, and Dan Rim, freshman in

pre-advertising, the tension hits closer to home than anyone would

like.

The war of the

past

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>Pak grew up in Seoul, Korea. He remembers what

it was like to live in a country stricken by war.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>“There was no food, water and clothing for

almost three years,” Pak said. “My parents did whatever they could

to avoid death.”

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>The Korean War was a military conflict between

the North and areas

of South Korea which killed

three million people. After War World II ended in 1945, the Korean

Peninsula became divided because of clashing beliefs. The North

wanted a communist government so they developed one under Kim Il

Song, with additional help from the Russians. The South developed

into a democracy with help from the United States. On June 25,

1950, the North attacked the South in an attempt to reunite the

country under communist rule. The war started in 1950 and it lasted

until 1953.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>“After the war, it seemed like 90 percent of

the population were unemployed,” Pak said. “People were hungry

because of the lack of food available. My father, who had eight

children, was unemployed for awhile but when the allies started

helping South Korea, my father eventually found a job.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>“But in 1960 tragedy struck. In one year I

lost my father in March, my mother in June and my uncle in

September. After my parents passed away, I was raised by my older

sister, who was more like a mother to me,” Pak said.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>While Pak was raised by his older sister, he

participated in activities at school. In seventh grade, he began

practicing martial arts, which he now teaches to students as a

grandmaster. Pak left Korea in 1971 and came to Iowa State in 1973.

He has lived in the United States for roughly 40 years.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>“My generation greatly appreciates the U.S.

because they helped with aid,” <span style=

“line-height: 13px;”>Pak said. “<span style=

“line-height: 13px;”>When I was young, families averaged from three

to seven children, nowadays families are only one or two children

in South Korea. The younger generations do not know the meaning of

hunger. America is the land of opportunity, which is why I chose to

live here.”

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>Since the war, there have been many encounters

between North and South Korea over disputed boundaries. The same

tension that stemmed from the Korean War is now affecting the

younger generation. The war of the past is now the tension of the

present.

The tension of the

present

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>Dan Rim takes classes at Iowa State, but since

the dispute between North and South Korea has been worsening, he

now has other things to worry about besides the usual

exams.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>Rim grew up in South Korea. He knows what it

is like to worry about family. In order to keep up with Korean

events, he visits a website tailored to Korean news on a daily

basis and talks with his mother and father via phone.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>“When I heard about North Korea striking

Yeonpyeong, I was scared and afraid for my parents,” Rim said. “I

did not want anyone getting hurt.

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>”My family has been affected by the actions of

these two countries. The currency rate in South Korea has gone up

quite a bit because of the shelling that happened in Yeonpyeong,”

Rim said. “I think that if another war was to happen, South Korea

would lose more because of their strong economy, which is much

stronger than North Korea’s. But both sides will lose a lot of

lives.”

The promise of the

future

<span style=

“line-height: 115%;”>This summer Rim is planning on going back to

South Korea, though the tension between the two countries will

still be in continuation. The same tension that effected Pak’s

generation now affects the younger generation.