Exploring Korea:
Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula

Special Coverage

MILWAUKEE VOICES. KOREAN EXPERIENCES. October 14 – 25 @ 5:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This extensive editorial series recorded personal stories from Milwaukee, South Korea, and at the DMZ into North Korea, from July to September of 2024. The purpose of the journalism project was to document the heritage and contemporary experiences from unheard voices and overlooked ties that have bound Milwaukee and the Korean Peninsula together for decades.

MILWAUKEE VOICES. KOREAN EXPERIENCES. This special collection explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a North Korean defector, it weaves together generations of Korean and American experiences.

Milwaukee Independent has an award-winning tradition of reporting about international stories with deep local connections. The result of this assignment to Korea is a comprehensive 72-part series with 117,000 words, featuring individual voices, historical perspectives, and more than 2,200 original images and historic photos. It offers a mix of culture and history with contemporary issues for perspective, exploring the meaning of Korean identity in Milwaukee. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories