When My Name Was Keoko

The war has ended, yet strangely, there is more violence and unrest in Korea as a result. The Koreans have started to retaliate against the Japanese for their decades of abusive occupation, and the Japanese are fighting back, while the American forces try to keep the peace. Sun-hee cannot go outside due to the chaos, so she waits indoors and observes the US soldiers and their oddly different features. Abuji brings back a package of rations provided by their military and it includes rice, gum, and other treats that the family enjoys. They’ve never had gum, and the experience of chewing it baffles them.

Sun-hee learns that the US soldiers are evacuating the Japanese, so decides to visit her friend Tomo. He is surprised to see her, and calls her Keoko—her Japanese name—though she isn’t used to hearing it since the war ended. She worries about him and his family since they have to start a new life in a country where Tomo has practically never been. She gives him the stone from the night when Tomo stopped by to warn her about the metal raid. When Tomo mentions his condolences about Tae-yul’s death, she freezes, since no one in her household talks about it.