Interviewee: Mokeun (Rebeka) Suh
Interviewer: Abdelrahman (Abdel) Abdelsadig
Synopsis
Rebeka Suh is a South Korean woman who grew up in Guatemala within a Korean immigrant family, navigating both Korean and Guatemalan cultural identities while attending bilingual and international schools. In this interview, she shares how growing up in Guatemala felt isolating at first due to language barriers and cultural differences, and how the global popularity of K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean food helped shift social interactions, fostering curiosity and appreciation from local Guatemalans. She reflects on generational differences, noting that her parents’ generation maintained a strong Korean identity and struggled with integration, while her generation (specifically those born in Guatemala) have been more connected to Guatemalan culture, learning Spanish, and building cross-cultural relationships from a very young age. Rebeka also discussed social hierarchies in Guatemala, experiences with inequality, and how these experiences shaped her and her family’s life. This interview covers topics such as immigration, cross-cultural identity, generational differences, social hierarchy, cultural exchange, and the impact of popular culture on social integration.
I met the interviewee through a shared class two years ago, and the interview was conducted in person, allowing for an in-depth discussion with a level of comfort and vulnerability. The interview was conducted by Abdel Abdelsadig, a senior-year History and Biochemistry major on the pre-med track at Colby College who is interested in cross-cultural experiences, immigration, and the ways in which identity is shaped by generational and social dynamics.
Interview transcript (link)
Biography
Mokeun (Rebeka) Suh (Interviewee) was born in Daegu, South Korea, in 2005. She grew up with her older brother and younger sister in a pastor’s family, moving several times within Korea before immigrating to Guatemala at the age of eight. Her father became the pastor of a small Korean church in Guatemala, serving the local Korean community. Adjusting to a new environment was initially difficult for Rebeka, as she faced language barriers and cultural differences, but over time she adapted through attending bilingual and international schools. Growing up in Guatemala, she maintained strong connections to Korean culture and traditions through her family and church while also embracing Guatemalan and global influences. After graduating from high school, she moved to the United States for college and is currently a junior at Colby College majoring in Biochemistry, with plans to pursue medical school.