Mother
어머니
There is a possibility that I might die today.
어쩌면 제가 오늘 죽을지도 모릅니다.
Mother,
어머니,
I am not afraid of death.
죽음이 무서운 것은 결코 아닙니다.
But I am afraid of not seeing you or my siblings ever again.
어머니랑 형제들도 다시한번 못 만나고 죽을 생각을 하니 죽음이 약간 두렵다는 말입니다.
However, I will survive.
하지만 저는 살아가겠습나다.
I promise to return safely.
꼭 살아서 돌아가갰습니다.
It seems like the enemies are advancing.
놈들이 다시 다가 오는 것 같습니다.
Mother goodbye.
어머니 안녕.
Goodbye.
안녕.
Ah it is not goodbye.
아뿔사 안녕이 아닙니다.
Because I will write again.
다시 쓸 태니까요.
Later again.
그럼 이따가 또.
Artist book inspired by the unsent letter of Lee U Geun, a South Korean student soldier.
During the Korean War, 71 undertrained and outgunned South Korean student soldiers were drafted to particpate in the Battle of P'ohang-Dong on August 11,1950. Due to the lack of man power, the nation was left in the hands of teens. Each student was equipped with an M1 rifle and 250 bullets. For 11 hours, these student soldiers managed to defend their base yet sadly many were slaughtered. Amongst the 71 student soldiers, Lee U Geun wrote letters addressed to his mother that testify to the horrors of the war. None of his letters were ever sent or received.
