When My Name Was Keoko

With the escalation of the war, the Japanese army has become stricter in Korea. They introduce a system for residential gatherings in case of a war emergency, and the neighbors must practice how to organize themselves for military roll calls. During a practice session, the soldiers appear and begin to yell at everyone to get in line outside of their house and count off. Sun-hee describes a neighbor who is an old widow, shunned and neglected by the community because it views her as “bad luck” (68). She lives by herself and doesn’t speak Japanese, so when the soldier gets to her, she is unable to call out her number in Japanese and says “six” in Korean instead (70). The soldier beats her in front of everyone, saying she has a brain of “dung” for not being able to speak Japanese (70). Once he moves on, Omoni tries to help her up, but the soldier gets angry. Omoni explains that she is an elder and needs assistance.

Her mother’s courage stuns Sun-hee, and the soldier surprisingly allows them to take the old widow inside her home. Sun-hee feels guilty because she could have helped the widow by telling her the Japanese word for six while standing in line, but instead she had just mumbled it to herself out of fear of the soldiers. If she had used her voice—like her mother—she might have prevented the beating. To make up for it, she stays at the widow’s house to teach her how to count in Japanese. However, after only teaching her five numbers, the old woman says she refuses to learn more because she will not allow the Japanese to own her “thoughts” (73). Knowing this, Sun-hee tells Omoni, and Omoni makes Sun-hee promise that she will help the widow to be the first outside during a roll call. Sun-hee is hesitant, but agrees.

Tae-yul finds the “neighborhood accountings” to be “such a nuisance” (74). He hides in the house while the countdown takes place, but Omoni grows worried that the soldiers will find out so he never does it again. During school, the students receive rubber balls from the Japanese Emperor in honor of Japan’s victories in tropical islands with large rubber production. The children begin to play with their balls but the school’s military personnel suddenly stop them and make them recite their gratitude for the Emperor’s generosity. This ruins Tae-yul’s mood, who rationalizes:

But I don’t feel like playing anymore—all because of that stupid announcement. ‘Express your gratitude,’ they’d said. What they take: our rice, our language, our names. What they give: little rubber balls. I can’t feel grateful about such a bad deal (76).

Tae-yul then refuses to play with his friends that day.

The accountings continue to increase. Tae-yul explains his dislike for how the residents must praise the “Imperial Army” and must also offer their supplies to soldiers if needed (76). He and Uncle are angry, but Abuji tells them there is no use for anger. Tae-yul questions how his father is not angrier. During winter, the soldiers take jackets and blankets from families, and Tae-yul’s discontent continues to grow. One afternoon, Tae-yul is riding his bike home when two soldiers shout for him to stop. They probe him and the bicycle. Tae-yul feels uncomfortable. Abuji comes outside and the soldiers address him as “sensei” (77)—the teacher—informing him that they will need to take Tae-yul’s bike for the Imperial Army. When they try to confiscate it, Tae-yul resists, but Abuji only apologizes to the soldiers and they take it from him. As they walk away, they laugh and make jokes. Tae-yul, infuriated, criticizes his dad’s response. Abuji walks away and apologizes to his son, but Tae-yul believes Abuji doesn’t care.

Sun-hee senses anger and sadness from Tae-yul but doesn’t know why. She sees him walking to school the next morning instead of riding his bike like usual, but she hasn’t heard anything about the bike incident so can only make guesses. At home, Tae-yul and Abuji are tense, and Sun-hee grows uncomfortable. To make matters worse, Uncle isn’t around as often because he works longer hours at his shop. When Sun-hee brings him dinner one night, and notices he is acting strangely. One night, when she is going to take him food, she receives an unexpectedly visit from her old friend, Tomo, who is hiding in the shadows.

His visit is a surprise, and Sun-hee is confused since they no longer attend school together. He talks about their childhood and is acting strangely, making comments about her Uncle and how nice he was to them. When he leaves, Sun-hee thinks that he might’ve been sending a message to warn her about Uncle. She runs to his shop—careful that Japanese patrollers don’t intercept her—and frantically explains herself. Uncle seems prepared, and begins to pack his materials. He thanks her for being “very brave” (86), and tells her to ask Tae-yul for more details. He says he will be leaving for an indefinite amount of time. Sun-hee feels scared but proud that she helped warn him.

Sun-hee returns home to inform the family about Uncle’s departure. Abuji is concerned and simply says they will tell others they don’t know where he went. Abuji also warns the family that no one can leave the house that tonight. Sun-hee exits the room looking frightened, so Tae-yul goes after her. She tells him that Uncle gave her permission to know more, so Tae-yul explains what he has recently learned. Uncle secretly works for a Korean resistance group and has been printing newsletters at night. His partnership with the Japanese was a front to seem like a “chin-il-pa” (Japanese lover) so that he could avoid Imperial scrutiny (87). Sun-hee tells Tae-yul that Tomo warned her and she informed Uncle, and Tae-yul is surprised by this news. Their parents only know that Uncle is in the resistance, but nothing else.

Tae-yul tells his sister that he is grateful for their Uncle, who has kept him informed while Abuji “buries himself in his books” (89). Tae-yul is critical of his father; he doesn’t believe his father cares about what happens to Koreans. Sun-hee defends Abuji by saying it’s his role to keep everyone safe. Tae-yul counters by saying that Uncle is the real hero: “what Uncle and others like him are doing—it’s more important than anything. We aren’t Japanese—we’re Korean. But we’ll never be allowed to truly be Korean unless we have our independence” (90). Sun-hee continues to push back, asking if that’s more important than family allegiance. Tae-yul explains that without a rebellion from men like Uncle, there will be no Korean families left to defend.

They agree to keep everything a secret and return inside and pretend to study. Then, a neighborhood accounting takes place in the night. They scramble to get the widow and organize themselves—since accountings only happen in the day—and worry that it might be about Uncle. Instead, the leader demands that every family collect the metals in their household and offer it to the Imperial Army’s “divine” mission (92). The family gathers their jewelry, family heirlooms, tools, and other metal objects. Sun-hee begs her mother not to get rid of a golden dragon brooch that was a gift. Omoni thinks about it, then hides it in her underwear. The family is tense, but all agree, and give the rest to the soldiers. The chapter ends when Tae-yul decides to sneak out to see Uncle’s shop, but everything seems normal there. He worries that Sun-hee made a mistake, and runs home to let her know.