Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time Podcast · Behind-the-scenes stories and research on growing up in Korean society.
29(19).The Korean War Never Ended: Family Trauma Across Generations
October 2, 2025·15 min·1 clip
The post-war survival strategy was an unspoken national agreement: 'Don't talk about it. Endure it. Work.'—where voicing pain was dangerous.
As heard by us
A clear, painful look at how war can survive inside a family.
The episode treats the Korean War as something that never really stayed at the armistice line. Through Ji Won's research notes, it moves from wartime silence to the habits of survival that followed: a father jumping at a backfire, a mother stocking rice, a family and a country…
Why you'd press play
Hear how a war that officially stopped can still leave a family braced for impact.
Listen to the show on