This interview is with Hyeonung Kim (HK), a 20-year-old Korean-American student at Colby College. Hyeonung was born in Ilsan, South Korea, moved to Jeju Island when he was one, and then moved to Bellevue, Washington when he was five years old. In this interview, HK reflects on his experiences assimilating into American culture and the role that his Asian community played in that process. He discusses family dynamics as the youngest of three siblings, his mother’s decision to leave Korea for greater educational and personal freedoms for her children, and how she became an inspiration in adapting to life in the United States. He also draws on aspects of Korean culture that he has maintained, and how he has held onto his culture at Colby.
This interview covers topics such as: Family Dynamics, Single-Parent Households, ESL Schooling, Assimilation, the Korean Diaspora, and Korean Culture.
This interview was conducted face-to-face on Colby College’s campus in Waterville, Maine. This interview was conducted by Aidan Giesser, a senior Government major at Colby College who plays rugby and is interested in foreign policy.