Korean students respond to shooter's identity
Miju Kim
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: News
When junior Eunji Kim initially learned of the horrible incident that occured at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, she was deeply concerned for the students' safety.
It was not until the next day when the gunman's identity was revealed and she learned he was Korean.
"I turned on the TV and saw that all over the channels, Cho Seung-Hui's identity as a South Korean national was said over and over again," Eunji, a Korean, said. "It made me progressively more uncomfortable."
She said she thought of the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when people of Middle Eastern descent residing in the United States suffered from the racial prejudices of citizens and the media.
While staring at news anchors repeatedly reporting the nationality of the gunman, Eunji said she felt a cold chill sweep across her body. For a brief moment, she was scared.
"There was no assurance as to if disclosure of Cho Seung-Hui's nationality would provoke racial prejudice," she said. "However, there was no assurance that it would not provoke racial prejudice either. It was the uncertainty that scared me."
Her initial shock was contained quickly after she realized the media's emphasis was on what kind of individual Cho was and how his past was ridden with mental instability.
"Although I was still conscious of the fact that he turned out to be a Korean, I was relieved from most of my initial fears," she said.
Senior Jae Ryung Chung said she remembered her roommate's boyfriend's reaction after the killer's identity as a South Korean was revealed. He waited until his girlfriend's classes ended and escorted her to the house by his car.
"He told us we shouldn't go to the bar or crowded places at night," Chung said. "He told us we should be careful."
Senior Daehee Kim received e-mails from his friends in South Korea asking him if everything was OK after the Tech shootings. Daehee said he did not experience any racist incidents, but heard some stories from his friends who go to other colleges in the country.
It was not until the next day when the gunman's identity was revealed and she learned he was Korean.
"I turned on the TV and saw that all over the channels, Cho Seung-Hui's identity as a South Korean national was said over and over again," Eunji, a Korean, said. "It made me progressively more uncomfortable."
She said she thought of the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when people of Middle Eastern descent residing in the United States suffered from the racial prejudices of citizens and the media.
While staring at news anchors repeatedly reporting the nationality of the gunman, Eunji said she felt a cold chill sweep across her body. For a brief moment, she was scared.
"There was no assurance as to if disclosure of Cho Seung-Hui's nationality would provoke racial prejudice," she said. "However, there was no assurance that it would not provoke racial prejudice either. It was the uncertainty that scared me."
Her initial shock was contained quickly after she realized the media's emphasis was on what kind of individual Cho was and how his past was ridden with mental instability.
"Although I was still conscious of the fact that he turned out to be a Korean, I was relieved from most of my initial fears," she said.
Senior Jae Ryung Chung said she remembered her roommate's boyfriend's reaction after the killer's identity as a South Korean was revealed. He waited until his girlfriend's classes ended and escorted her to the house by his car.
"He told us we shouldn't go to the bar or crowded places at night," Chung said. "He told us we should be careful."
Senior Daehee Kim received e-mails from his friends in South Korea asking him if everything was OK after the Tech shootings. Daehee said he did not experience any racist incidents, but heard some stories from his friends who go to other colleges in the country.
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