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Seoyoun Diana Lee was 10 years old when she emigrated with her parents to New York, USA from Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong) or Chungnam a province in the west of South Korea. She is now a permanent resident and a psychology major at New York University. She hopes to finish school by 2013 and then get a master’s in psychology.

Seoyoun plays the piano and the flute, and says that music runs in her family. Her mother is musically inclined and her father is a music conductor. She is also a creative write and thinker.

We met at Crazy Bananas located in the neighborhood of Koreatown or K-Town as it is popularly known at 315 5th Avenue (between 31st St & 32nd St), well known for its frozen yogurts and bubble teas. And it’s warm and friendly feel. We talked culture over Mocha bubble teas and kosher raspberry cookies.

What strikes you immediately about Seoyoun is her effusive smile and quiet confidence.
I asked her what from her point of view helps preserve and sustain Korean traditions and culture especially for her generation. According to her, the Korean Church and Korean Association which have a national presence are instrumental in keeping their culture alive and growing in the USA. The Korean Church for instance is the hub of all activities related to socialization, language preservation and networking.

Seoyoun and her friend from the church love to visit karaoke bars in K-Town, which she says is a very bonding experience. Karaoke which has it’s origins in Japan, is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music (and/or a music video) using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol or changing color and/or music video images, to guide the singer. In some countries, a karaoke box is called a KTV.

Seoyoun also mentions the strict codes of intergeneration conduct that exists in Korean society. It would be unthinkable for her to address her parents or grandparents by name. Certain specific terms are in place to address elders in the community. For instance she addresses her grandfather asHalabuhji and her grandmother as Halamoni.

South Koreans celebrate Choosuk or Thanksgiving during the 2nd week of September to mark the harvesting of crops. According to Seoyoun the term Choosuk has it’s origins in China. Sae Hae or New Year is celebrated on the 1st of January as in parts of the world following the Gregorian calendar. No New Year celebration can be without Tokgook or rice cake soup in South Korean households. Hanbok or the traditional Korean dress is worn during major festivals and celebrations.

According to Seoyoun intense globalization, technological advances and a perceptible rise in living standards, has the divorce rate among South Koreans approaching that of the West. It is also responsible for the slow but sure erosion of South Korean traditions especially in big cities like Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

Her vision for the future of South Koreans includes keeping the culture of respect for elders alive and maintaining a balance between development of their society and preserving their cultural roots. Seoyoun visited South Korea for the first time since she came to New York as a 4th grade student and says it was a great experience to be with her extended family and revive her roots.

Seoyoun has an unshakeable faith in her people and says that perseverance is their greatest trait. She cites the example of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), when through sheer determination and perseverance the Koreans were finally able to push back the Japanese forces.

I believe her.