By Choi Jin-woo of Korea.net and Kang Sung-chul of Yonhap News

"Since our ancestors gave us so much, it's our turn to give back to our future generations."

Documentary producer Jinyoung Lee, who won Best Emerging Filmmaker at the 2021 Liberty International Movie Festival in Korea for her six-part documentary "Words of Wisdom from the Rainbow State," said this in a Nov. 13 joint interview with Korea.net and Yonhap News.

Graduating with a bachelor's from the Department of Communications and Media at Ewha Womans University in Seoul and moving to Hawaii as an immigrant in 2005, she is formerly a reporter for the Hawaii bureau of the Korean daily Hankook Ilbo and news anchor at the Korean broadcaster KBFD-TV on the islands.

She later turned to film and worked on her acclaimed documentary, which comprises six episodes on the history of Korean immigration to the U.S., and the feature-length work "Songs of Love from Hawaii," which encapsulates the 120-year history of Korean Americans in the U.S. through music.

Lee said she decided to pursue making documentaries on the history of Korean immigration to the U.S. after interviewing Korean American entrepreneur Kim Chang-won, dubbed the "godfather of the Korean community in Hawaii," at a broadcast station there.

The following are excerpts from the interview with Lee, who highlights the lives of the first Korean immigrants to the U.S. through the universal value of love and shines a light on the lesser-known history of Korean immigration.

How did your series on the history of Korean immigration get acclaim at global film festivals?

"We will now look for traces of love that they (ancestors) left behind." This quote from the opening of the movie "Songs of Love from Hawaii" is a theme consistently woven throughout the entire work. Looking at the history of Korean immigration, we can see how much love our ancestors gave us. I believe that this sentiment has also been conveyed to non-Koreans. Love is the most universally recognized value in all religions and ideologies. Love in Christianity, mercy in Buddhism or benevolence in Confucianism all appear to be expressed in different ways but the core is "love." The history of Korean immigration is filled with such love.

How are Koreans viewed in Hawaii?

"Words of Wisdom" shows many individuals who've made diverse contributions to mainstream society like Moon Dae-yang, former chief justice of Hawaii's Supreme Court, and Harry Kim, former mayor of Hawaii County. Many Koreans in Hawaii coexist harmoniously with other communities and are respected. Hawaii has the longest history of Korean immigration and Korean culture is ingrained throughout society here. The islands have many foods derived from Korean cuisine like "meat jeon" (pancakes).

How difficult was it to make a career switch from journalist to documentary director?

My career appears to be constantly changing but I've been involved in various mediums as a "storyteller" to effectively convey what I want to tell. I utilized video as a medium to more effectively communicate the history of Korean immigration to a broader audience. I believed that the impact of video such as YouTube would be more influential than other mediums like text or photos. I also thought that if I make the story into a movie, it could be screened at schools or other places. I chose the omnibus format of episodes running about 20 minutes each rather than a feature-length movie because I wanted to make my movie an educational resource for schools. I felt proud when high school students who watched the film expressed their emotions.

Were you worried that your work could fail?

I wasn't afraid because my goal wasn't success. I thought I'd already made it even because I learned wisdom about life without financial profits. Of course, I was nervous over whether I could see this project to the end since it was my solo indie film company that was doing production. But former Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim, who appeared in "Songs of Love" said, "If you truly know that you've done your best, you'll have no regrets." That helped me a lot.

Why should ethnic Koreans overseas recognize their ethnic roots?

Like the English proverb that says to examine the roots to understand the tree, roots help build one's identity. Despite choosing to move to Hawaii in 2005, living as an immigrant wasn't easy. But as I studied the history of Korean immigration, I grew convinced that Hawaii wasn't just a picturesque foreign land but where our ancestors lived and set roots for 120 years. The diasporic life is that of a border crosser who finds belonging anywhere difficult, but while making the film, I grew to know that if you trace your ancestral roots and learn about your immigration, you can belong anywhere.

What would you like to say to people unfamiliar with multiculturalism?

I believe that Hawaii's culture of respect and coexistence allowed people of Korean descent to become a chief justice or mayor. Such figures served not only the Korean community but also mainstream society and minorities, earning the respect of residents. Regardless of nationality, it is crucial to embrace and understand immigrants with an open mind. Thinking of the true meaning of coexistence is essential, and this is something I always strive for when making documentaries. 

In the second episode of "Songs of Love," specifically in the picture bride story of "My Halmeoni's (Grandmother) Brass Bowl" featuring Lim Ok-sun, I highlighted the lives and dedication of Korean immigrant women to shed light on this part. The development of the Korean community in Hawaii was possible because of its harmony with diverse ethnicities. To move toward the future, coexistence and solidarity are necessary.

What memorable moments did you have while making your documentary?

An elderly Korean War veteran came to me after a screening of "Words of Wisdom" at a small community center on Maui. He said he only had horrible memories of the war but that thanks to the movie, he felt proud of his participation. Learning about the contributions of Koreans to Hawaii made me feel grateful, and this was more valuable to me than any other reward.

What is the role of youth to preserve their roots? 

We have a responsibility to pass on the love and dedication of our ancestors to future generations. Since each country has its own Korean diaspora, we must study immigration history to understand the kind of love received and how. Knowing one's roots is crucial for establishing one's identity. I hope people reflect on how much love we've received and how to give back to future generations or immigrants. As evidenced by the history of the Korean community in Hawaii, which supported the motherland's independence movement and contributed to the Korean War, I hope that even while living abroad, we can have pride in our roots.

Why do you publicize the history of Korean immigration? 

I want to share our precious immigration history not only with Koreans but also the estimated 7.08 million of our compatriots worldwide, especially children. In their early days, Koreans in  Hawaii collected wages earned at sugarcane farms and sent USD 3 million to the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai (China). While our culture including K-pop, movies and food is on the world's center stage, I hope that not only our cultural achievements but also our proud history is widely recognized. Even for children living outside Korea's borders, I hope that they carry a sense of Korean pride and confidently contribute to their respective communities.

What will your next production be? 

I want to make a video exploring the diverse history of the Korean diaspora for many people. For my next project, I am especially interested in the history of Korean immigration to the U.S. mainland since many Koreans who initially arrived in Hawaii went on to create new history on the mainland. Many Korean immigrant families have remarkable stories of individuals such as (swimmer) Sammy Lee, who achieved back-to-back Olympic victories. 

Of course, producing a documentary incurs financial challenges. Unlike the non-commercial production of "Words of Wisdom," "Songs of Love" was initially meant for theatrical release requiring expenses for marketing, distribution and licensing agreements. So we seek donations through our website (www.therainbowwords.com/donate).

paramt@korea.kr