Korea

FHS Oral History Project – Gauen Lee

Gauen Lee was born in Cheongju, South Korea, in 2001. She recollected memories of her upbringing, particularly her fascination with living abroad and her frustration with adhering to cultural norms, such as respecting elders. The combination of these factors prompted her to leave South Korea and emigrate to Florida in 2018 through a student exchange program. She recounted several cultural shocks she experienced upon arriving in Spring Hills, Florida, from students brazenly disrespecting teachers to looser parent-child relations. She particularly remembered her struggles with the first American family the agency paired her with, as the grandmother refused to let Gauen speak Korean in an effort to strengthen her English. After completing high school, she attended Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. At Valencia, Gauen joined the Valencia Intercultural Student Association as a way to widen her cultural experience and avert boredom. Additionally, while in Orlando, Gauen joined the Orlando Korean Cultural Center (OKCC) and explained her reasons for joining, the organization’s mission, and her expanding role over the past three years. She has taught Korean classes to non-Korean speakers, detailing her methods and takeaways. Gauen discussed her visions for OKCC’s future, particularly maximizing the increasing influence of K-pop and K-culture in the United States as a way to expand the organization’s reach. Gauen attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, finishing her bachelor's degree in Information Systems in December 2024.

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