Interviewee: Eun Ja Kim
Interviewer: Daniel Lee
The interview is with Eun Ja Kim, born in 1969, in Mokpo, South Korea. Eun Ja currently lives
in Temecula, California and works as a chef at a local sushi restaurant. She attends church
weekly with her pastor husband, Young Woo Lee. Eun Ja highlights what it was like growing up
in Mokpo, explaining familial roles and values, her relationships with siblings/neighbors, and
how the education system was at the time. She also discusses her experience of immigrating to
the U.S., explaining her emotions and feelings of isolation during that time. This interview
covers topics about education, interactions with community, gender expectations, migration, and
identity.
Eun Ja is my mother, and the interview was conducted via Zoom, as she lives in California.
My name is Daniel Lee, and I am a 4th-year Chem-Biochemistry major at Colby College. I am
passionate about this course, as I get a chance to learn about my parent’s history and oral
storytelling. This class allows me to connect back to the older generation of Korea.
Eun Ja Kim was born in 1969 in Mokpo, South Korea. She grew up surrounded by a loving
family and a strong sense of community where her parents taught her the importance of
kindness, hard work, and faith. She immigrated to the United States in her early-30s and now
lives in Temecula, California, with her husband, Young Woo Lee, who is a pastor. She works
as a chef at a local sushi restaurant and enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and
being active in her church community. Her favorite hobby is to scroll MissyUSA and interact
with other Korean mothers.