By Laura Rodell
Entitled “Remembering the Korean War,” the program will observe the 55th anniversary of the conflict through readings and film showings, both in English and Korean languages. “The main reason for organizing this event is that, over the past year, there's been this issue over how to embrace North Korean refugees,” said Younshin Kim, assistant coordinator of the New Americans Program at the Queens Borough Public Library. “It's one of the biggest issues for the overwhelmingly South Korean population here in Flushing as well as one of national importance.” At 1 p.m., poet Jeong Ki Kim and writer Mijeong Choi will read and discuss in Korean the literature of Ho-chi Lee. Lee's works center around the theme of being united through common humanity over being divided through participation in armed conflict. “Lee's work is appropriate at this time because it talks about living together as human beings, beyond ideology and beyond political parties,” Kin noted. The film “Tae Guk Gi: the Brotherhood of the War” will be shown in Korean, with English subtitles, at 2 p.m., with a discussion to follow. Due to graphic battle scenes, minors will be permitted to view the film only if accompanied by an adult. “I can confidently say this is the best movie ever made on the subject of the Korean War,” Kim noted. The program is scheduled for Saturday at the Flushing Public Library, 41-17 Main St, and admission is free. The Queens Borough Public Library currently reports that it serves two million people in the most ethnically diverse county in the United States and has the highest circulation of any public library system in the country. Kim noted that Flushing Central currently serves the highest Korean population. Additional information on library programs services, locations, events and news is available through the Queens Borough Public Library web site at www.queenslibrary.org or (718) 990-0700. The Flushing Central Library can be contacted at (718) 661-1200.
