The first topic that changes Sookan is when the Japanese come and take over North Korea. This changed Sookan and her family because they where used to being their own country being able to believe in their own religion. Then the Japanese came and they couldn't go to the Korean churches or temples, instead they had to go to the Japanese temples and schools. “The Japanese flag had flown in front of the entrance to our house.” (Choi 91) Sookan had to deal with not believing in her own Korean religion, she had to “believe” in the Japanese religion.
The second and most