“The war is over! Japan has lost!”(Choi 85). This event changed Sookan, as she became happy and more relaxed. Because Sookan was able to enjoy life and not have to worry about the Japanese coming changed, her view on life improved and became positive. Further, Sookan changed when she crossed the border. Sookan and Inchun were trying to escape North Korea. She was almost to South Korea when “ I heard the dogs drawing closer and I thrust my body under the wire. The barbs dug into me. My hair was caught, my clothes ripped and I could feel the blood pooling in the cuts on my back. I kept going, and finally, I made it through. I grabbed Inchun’s hand. We cried and kept running.”(Choi 164). When they were a bit past the border, Sookan told Inchun, “We’re safe, we’re safe.” (Choi 165) Once Sookan made it to the South, she collapsed with relief. She could live a normal life with the rest of her family. For the first time in her life, she and her family were not living under military control. Finally, Sookan changes in many ways throughout the book Year of Impossible Goodbyes, when faced when the following situations: Sookan saw the results of how cruel the Japanese could be, Sookan was informed the war was over, Sookan crossed