Response to "Are They Koreaned Enough"

Reading Are They Koreaned Enough? by Anne Soon Choi got me into thinking of
struggles that Korean Americans, especially those second generation immigrants,
faced in the early 1900s which was the period of Japanese colonization. It is not hard
to tell that KNA (Korean National Association), fighting for Korean independence,
wanted to engage second generation to its nationalist activities. However, when it
was found that this second generation could not be actively incorporated in KNA
movement due to cultural conflicts, there were critics scrutinizing second generation
for lacking sense of national pride.

Although this response is understandable considering Koreans suffering as a

colonized country, these nationalist activists high demand to second generation
seems somewhat selfish to me. Those immigrants were already facing difficulties
with racial identity; keeping their racial background and incorporating themselves to
American culture would have been already demanding tasks.

I have never thought of what it would like to be a Korean American since I am

identified as Korean. However, I do know some of my Korean American friends are
more adjusted to one particular culture, whether it is Korean culture or American
culture; it is definitely troublesome to perfectly mix two distinctively different
cultures and adjust to it. Thus, as a perspective of Korean Americans especially in the
1900s, it would have been more stressful to adjust themselves to American culture
and to fulfill nationalist activities demand simultaneously.

Conflicts between second generation and nationalist activists occurred as a

consequence. It is hard to choose which side I would like to defend because both
sides have reasonable causes for their actions. Nonetheless, I want to point out that
understanding second generations stance would have led nationalists to more
effectively engage second generation in their movement.

- Emily Kim