As a grammar school student in Korea, I began writing short stories and poetry. I loved to write, for through writing, I could express my thoughts, ideas, and feelings, and could even express my dreams and visions of the fantastic."
But Choi's childhood was anything but idyllic. She had grown up during a time of great strife in her country; it was occupied by Imperial Japan during World War II, and the Koreans suffered under the oppressive regime. After the war, the country was partitioned into two--a Communist north and a democratic South--and this situation brought its own hardships. In 1950, war broke out between the two sides, with China assisting North Korea and American military forces allied with its southern counterpart. When the war ended in 1953, the division remained and became even more severe. All of these events would be well chronicled in a trilogy of books, autobiographical in nature, that began with her debut novel, Year of Impossible Goodbyes.
Took Her Own Advice
As a young woman, Choi journeyed to the United States to attend college. She studied French, art, and European history at Manhattanville College, outside of New York City, and eventually became a schoolteacher in New York City for two decades.
This is a free page. This page contains 195 words. This
biography contains 2,493 words (approx. 8 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Biography with our Sook Nyul Choi Access Pass.
