South Korea

"Even now, I feel guilty that I pulled the trigger." 
— Lee Joon-Young

During the occupation of the southern section of the peninsula by Japan, the United States appointed Syngman Rhee as the leader of South Korea and the Soviets installed Kim Il Sung as the North Korean leader.  South Korea became a modern democracy after the occupation and the North had leaned more towards Communism.  The South Korean government's structure was like many democracies, divided into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative.  South Korea has a market economy, but despite the economy's high growth potential and structural stability, they suffer perpetual damage to its credit rating in the stock market.  (Syngman Rhee)

“We risked our lives for a South Korean dream. But many of us feel like boat people even if we are in the South. I sometimes ask myself a dangerous question. If a war breaks out, should I fight South Koreans or should I shoot at my relatives in the North?” - Ri Kyong

During the war, North Korean soldiers invaded the South rural areas.  Many families fled during the war, some families had no survivors and some families had only one child survive.  However, that child would eventually die becuase he or she had no one to take care of him or her. They would stay in the civilians' houses, rape, kill, and kidnap them.  Everyone was hungry and many dead bodies were found lying around everywhere.  The Prisoners of war died in large numbers during the first year of the war.  Lack of food, shelter, and medicine took its toll.  During the first winter, some American POW's reported marching for days. (Rural Life)

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