Richard Kim's Lost Names is a treasure trove of historical and culture gems. While he denies that his story is autobiographical it seems to this writer that it is more so than not. For those who are not familiar with the history of Korea especially in the 20th century Kim's book can be the beginning of an educational journey. From 1912 until 1945 the Japanese occupied Korea. At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, (the setting for Adolf Hitler who left the stadium before he had to shake hands with Jesse Owen,) Korean athletes were forced to participate under Japanese names.
With this in mind it is evident that Kim's account of life in occupied Korean details the oppression of the Japanese and how the Koreans were able to retain their sense of Koreaness while complying with the demands of their overlords.
The middle school aged hero (who my students who are sophomores related to readily) is the leader of his class in his Japanese dominated school. Children were treated as if they were Japanese. At home they were basically not allowed to forget that they were Korean. The reader catches glimpses of this most Confucian of Asian countries along with the pervasive influence of Christianity. There is the great respect shown to the father. A really touching scene has to do with the visit to the cemetery where the grandfather is in tears lamenting to the deceased how the living generation has failed them.
This writer's daughter could gain much even now as a thirty something, (adopted at age 5+ from the Hermit Kingdom,) from reading this book. Virtually enslaved by the Japanese, forced to accept new Japanese names and humiliated in a variety of ways my daughter would gain some important insights into this rugged land and its people during a difficult time. Kim's family is depicted as a family which is highly respected and looked up to. The son is a beneficiary of this status.
Near the end the hero recently freed from his obligation at a Japanese school/work camp is involved in liberating his town side by side with his father who is the leader of the effort. Successful negotiation with the Japanese police allows for a peaceful transition from Japanese domination. Later he sees the Japanese solider, who approved his pass to go home with his mother, working in a labor gang supervised by Russian soldiers who are occupying Korea north of the 38th parallel. Mention of the soldiers conjures up images of Kim Il Sung and the Russian sponsorship of the invasion of the south and the beginning of the Korean War in Which Richard Kim fought
Kim's story is centered in North Korea not far from Pyongyang the current capital of the rogue North Korean regime of Kim Jong Il heir of his father Kim Il Sung. So much can be gained from this book. With many points of departure there is much to learn more in depth about Korea. This is a gem, one of many facets. Read it and enjoy a great story with connections to much of the modern history of Korean and of the relations between the U.S. and Korea and the Cold War. The Cold War is alive and well in Korea separated by the demilitarized Zone along the 38th parallel.
I was really fortunate to check out a curriculum in print entitled Korea: Lessons for Elementary School (Korean Studies Council International, 2000) While quite elementary in nature these materials were very helpful preparing the students for reading the book Lost Names. There are chapters that include geography, cultural customs, and symbols as history, arts and storytelling. It was especially helpful to have the behaviors that would be considered taboo in Korea such as eating ice cream while walking down the street, etc.
The chapter entitled “Losing important things” can serve as a backdrop to reading Lost Names. A fictitious person, a young man much like Richard Kim, loses his name and is given a Japanese name. This is only one loss that the students are apprised of. They, of course, lose their country, sometimes their families, to the Japanese militarists for almost 50 years.
There are five important Korean symbols that we reviewed. These included (which we could compare to the United States) The Turtle Ship(s), The observatory built in 647 in the ancient Silla capital, Kyongju named Chomsongdae, the Korean flag, and one of the most famous buildings in Korea a temple called Popchusa built in 553 containing the largest statue of Buddha in Korea. Finally, there is Tiger symbol is important and featured in folktales and is considered a messenger of the mountain deities as well as a helpful friend of the people. The tiger was also a symbol of the 1988 Olympics in Korea.
All this to say how a curriculum designed for elementary students could also be utilized for sophomores in High School without being condescending.
I will end by saying that the students really liked this book. This bordered on enthusiasm which is not rare but they compared it to a book assigned them in English class and they positively gushed about this book compared to the one assigned them in the English class. The curriculum about Korea helped to make this project work.