Immigration and getting a job
In 1956, just a year after her father's passing, she decided to seek freedom in the United States, despite not having any financial support.
Her journey began in Texas, where she secured a full scholarship as a student. However, this scholarship covered only her college expenses and a portion of her living costs, causing her to take on various jobs during her vacations in New York. She worked as a coffee waitress, motel cleaner, and even took on a factory job. Despite the physical demands of these roles, she found happiness in the fact that she was independently earning her own income and providing for herself.
Racism and hardships
However, her pursuit of freedom came with a harsh reality. She encountered pervasive racism that prevailed during her time in America. She was subjected to discriminatory practices such as being relegated to seats reserved for people of color on buses and enduring hurtful verbal abuses. These experiences left her deeply shocked by the racial discrimination prevalent in the United States.
After successfully graduating from college, she faced the looming threat of becoming an illegal immigrant as her visa had expired. She was on the verge of being deported back to Korea while working as an undocumented immigrant. However, thanks to the policies enacted by Lyndon B. Johnson, college graduates were granted the opportunity to obtain green cards, allowing her to continue her journey in the United States.
Learning about her father
In 1969, she secured a position as a librarian upon learning that Columbia University was seeking to hire staff for its newly established Korean Studies department at the Oriental Studies Library. During her tenure as a librarian, she immersed herself in the rich tapestry of Korean history, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that extended to her own family.
Through her diligent research, she found information related to her father's involvement in the independence movement against the Empire of Japan. She uncovered details about his activities, which saw him acting as a playboy prince to avoid Japan's surveillance while secretly advancing the cause of Korean independence from Japanese rule.
Her father, Lee Kang (prince Ui)
Her father, Lee Kang (prince Ui)
Learning about her father
Her father, Prince Ui, showed remarkable courage by expressing in a letter to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, "I would rather be a free Korean citizen than be a king under the Japanese government"
(나는 차라리 자유 한국의 한 백성이 될지언정, 일본 정부의 친왕이 되기를 원치 않는다).
His unwavering commitment to the cause of Korean independence from Japanese rule was evident in these words. (My Father Prince Ui)
However, due to his active involvement in the independence movement against Japan, Prince Ui was arrested by Japanese authorities, leading to the forfeiture of his royal title.
Motivated by this newfound knowledge, she initiated a campaign aimed at restoring King Uichin's honor and shedding light on his significant role in the Korean independence movement.
Sources
Lee, Amy. “My Father Prince Ui,” 1997.
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