Hae Kyung Alice Hahn

Comments: Born as Hahn Tae Kang - changed her name to Hahn Hae Kyung

Born Sept 17, 1910  in Kah Pyung, North Korea (Same birthday as her husband).
Her family moved to the bigger city of Kae Sung, North Korea where Song Doo Sik's family lived. They were very poor, but did not want to go to Seoul to live with her aunt, who was living well as the daughter-in-law of the Prime Minister of Korea. Alice's family did not want her aunt, Kap Soon, to be embarrassed by having poor relatives.
When Alice was 12 years old, her mom finally sent Alice alone to Seoul to live with Kap Soon. They lived in a big house, but one year during a flood the house collapsed. While the house was being rebuilt, they all lived in Buddhist temple. Alice lived quite well with her aunt who had many servents and Alice was sent to school. Alice had pretty Hanbok to wear and had KooDoo (Western style shoes) to go to school.
When Alice was 15 years old, she moved back to Kae Sung to join her family. There they rented a house owned by Maria Park(who was quite famous person in Korea). Since Alice father did not work, they were very poor, and sometimes did not have money to buy food, Alice remembers starving from time to time.Usually during that time, girls were not sent to school, but her mom sent Alice to Hoston High School. She needed 250 won for tuition which she did not have. There was an American missionary who hired Alice to mend and wash clothes and to cook, in return paid her tuition. Since there was another maid, Alice did not do heavy cleaning.
During her senior year, Alice wanted to attend EWHA University for girls. EWHA required all the students to play the piano. Alice did not have money for piano lessons, but the missionary lady paid for piano lessons as well.
Alice attended EWHA university for 2 years majoring in Child Education.
After graduation from EWHA, the missionary lady had lined up a job for Alice, teaching at a kidergarten, Hoston Kidergarden. Alice made small salary.
Alice's mother was a Christian and Alice was brought up with Christianity and accepted Christ at an early age.
Alice married Jacob in Sept. 17,1931
Another missionary family Dr. Beohning asked Alice to come help them. Alice taught the family members Korean. Dr Beohning had a baby boy named Harold. This is the first time Alice ever saw a white baby and she was impressed how white he was and went to the hospital everyday to see him. Dr. B had 2nd child, a daughter who spoke perfect Korean.. Harold too spoke perfect Korean. When Harold was 12 years old, the family moved back to the States, Texas.    Alice met this Harold 40 years later in the States. Harold had become an MD. and even now in year 2002, she is in close contact with the family. Harold's younger son, went to Naval Academy at Annapolis, and was one of their best students. This son was stricken with cancer which started on one leg and progressed to the head. He had to be hospitalized (around 1998)and stayed with Alice for awhile. When they put him in the hospital, Harold and his wife, and daughter stayed with Alice.
Although the son was 3 months short of study to graduate, the Academy made special arrangements so that the son could graduate with his classmates. Alice went to the graduation ceremony which was attended by President George Bush Sr. There were over 1100 graduates. When it was time for the son to be wheeled in to take the diploma, he refused to accept it, because he did not finish. 40,000 people attending were so moved, they gave him 10 minutes of standing ovation and Pres. Bush spoke about him. Alice being there as part of the Harold's family shook hands with President Bush. The son passed away few months later.
Alice, taught several years at the Hoston elementary school while living with Jacob's parents and sister. They lived in one room house, and Alice had to sleep in the linen closet, since there were no room on the floor. Alice supported her in-laws.
Dec 8, 1941, the day Japanese declared war on USA (WW II), ,because her husband was in USA, Alice was accused of being a USA spy and was put in a prison for 3 months by the Japanese. It was a terrible ordeal, her mother walked hours in the snow everyday to bring her food and sometimes, put in a folded letter in the bottom of bowl of rice to give her news. She was given one dirty blanket full of lice, but had to use it since the cell had open floor where the wind just blew in. Alice was interrogated by the Japanese guard about her Christian faith. (This is written in detail in her essay).
After releasing from the prison, she attended Seoul University Medical school to become a midwife. Alice delivered many babies.
These were hard times, but after Jacob returned to Korea, her life changed. Jacob had a jeep, and bought a Western style house, they lived quite well from then on.

Jacob's family with Ruth and Luther, immigrated to USA in June 29, 1948 by ship which took 15 days.  They landed in Los Angeles. Sunwha was left behind to live with Alice's brother till the family would return in couple of years.
Kim family after arriving in USA, lived in Los Angeles for one year.
Sept, 1949 moved to New York, White Plains-lived about 6 years.
Jacob worked at Voice of America and ministered, making speeches and giving sermons to Americans.
June 25, 1950, Korean war broke out and Kim family could not return to Korea nor could they bring Sunwha to USA.   It took 10 years and special bill by the congress to bring Sunwha to USA.