I AM KOREAN AMERICAN

Own Words

I am proud to be an American and a Korean. I am one of those believers of America being a country of an idea of freedom. While I was not born here, this is my country that I grew to love, where I learned to be who I am, fell in love, lost a loved one, and built a family. This is my story of how I ended up where I am.

I was born as the third and youngest child of a working class family in Seoul, South Korea. My hard working mother was raising two children by herself when I was born. My father left Korea to work for a construction company in Saudi Arabia. It would be another nine years before I met my father. Before I could get adjusted to having both parents, we immigrated to the United States. Our flight to the United States was the first time I saw my mother cry. It would be years before I would understand her silent tears.

My journey in America started like most other Koreans. I was put into English as Second Language (ESL) class with other Koreans. It would be a couple of years before my English was good enough for regular conversations, and a few more years before proficiency was obtained. Thus far in my American journey, I would be called a FOB (fresh off the boat), a jock, a frat boy, a nerd, a patriot, a husband and a father.

In high school, I was made team captain in football and wrestling by my senior year. Unlike teen movies, I was unpopular for being too honest and loud with my opinions. I was not a serious student in high school and rarely brought textbooks home. Unlike typical Asian parents, my parents never asked for my grades. Thinking back, it was not that they did not care, but they were just too busy trying to earn a living. Most of my spare time at home was spent helping my parents with various odd jobs.

In college, I join a fraternity, worked full-time hours at a law-firm and became the most hated person on campus. I tried to join a Korean-American club during my first-year in college, and I was told I was too American. I also attempted be part of a Korean-American Christian gathering, but was told by some that I was not Christian enough. In my senior-year in college, I obtained instant notoriety and received death-threats for kicking a couple fraternities off campus.

After four years and two degrees later, I decided to become a professor in International Relations. Graduate school took me to the opposite end of the United States. Suddenly, I was a research assistant for a former Ambassador. A few years later, his good friends in South Korea and Pakistan would become presidents in both countries. Although I intended to go on to a doctorate degree, I was recruited after my masters degree to serve my country.

I was working for the organization that many blamed for not being able to stop the attacks that killed thousands. The reality of the attack did not hit me until a whole month after the attack. I learned that the family of a good friend was on the second flight. I traveled the world and risked dangers in service of my country. I even got to meet the leader of our nation in person. After few years, I left the organization with what can only be described as a bittersweet feeling. It was bitter in knowing that I could have done more, but it was sweet in knowing I have done more than the most.

Since my departure from the government service, I have been providing consulting services to various clients, including providing a backstory to a commercial video game. While my American journey continues, now as a parent I like to think that I am now in a supporting role.