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South Korea in 1953-54, as seen by a US soldier [PHOTOS]

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Porters at an unidentified location in 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
Porters at an unidentified location in 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit

By Park Si-soo

Newly released rare color photos of the country taken in 1953 and 1954 show how war-ravaged South Korea looked.

Rupert Nelson, an American Korean War veteran, took more than 200 photos while traveling around the country. He and Prof. Chung Gun-wha, of Hanshin University, sorted out 100 to publish a collection titled "Hello Korea."

The photos captured the post-war landscapes of Seoul, Busan and Chuncheon, and how people went about their daily lives among war debris.

Noonbit, the collection's publisher, said Nelson served in a front-line U.S. artillery unit from January 1953 to February the following year.

The 180-page collection is priced at 25,000 won.

A tent classroom at an unidentified location in 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
A tent classroom at an unidentified location in 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit

Beggar children at an unidentified location in 1954. Courtesy of Noonbit
Beggar children at an unidentified location in 1954. Courtesy of Noonbit

Chuncheon in the summer of 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
Chuncheon in the summer of 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit

An unidentified location in January 1954. Courtesy of Noonbit
An unidentified location in January 1954. Courtesy of Noonbit

Chuncheon in the summer of 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
Chuncheon in the summer of 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit

Downtown Seoul in the summer of 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
Downtown Seoul in the summer of 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit

Farmers work at an unidentified location in June 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
Farmers work at an unidentified location in June 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit

A girl at an unidentified location in October 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
A girl at an unidentified location in October 1953. Courtesy of Noonbit
Park Si-soo pss@koreatimes.co.kr


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