During the Japanese Occupation, my maternal great-grandmother ran an underground trading business (which was pretty much unheard of at the time in such a patriarchal society) that took her all over the Korean penisula, up to Russia and over to ports of call in China. She funneled the profits to her brother who was an active member of the resistance. Unfortunately he was caught, imprisoned and tortured. Upon his release, he died a short while later from years of being abused. Apparently her name is inscribed on a wall of honor in Korea. I’d love to see it some day. In order to protect her daughter (my grandmother, who at 103 years old, is still alive) from Japanese soldiers stationed on the Korean Peninsula, she sent her to be a school teacher in Tokyo. Several years later during the Korean War, my grandmother had multiple run-ins with Communist Chinese troops. Including one instance where they occupied her house (her husband, my grandfather had to flee, as all males were being conscripted or beaten/killed) and another, when they were in China, where Communist troops boarded a train she was on and stole everyone’s money, jewelery and valuables at gun point.
Over this 60+ year period, both the Japanese and the Chinese stole so much from my family and my mother’s people. I’m not too fond of either nation.
Incredible story, thanks for sharing it with us. I learn a lot here at FR.