Korean War

Background

The Korean War, which started on June 25, 1950, was caused due to a number of factors ranging from land disputes to ideological conflicts. Once Korea was liberated from Japan after WWII, the country was given to the United States and the Soviet Union, who decided to split it amongst themselves. The Soviet Union controlled the North, while the United States controlled the South. The ideological tension in Korea along with the conflicting ideologies of the communist Soviet Union and the capitalist US kept tensions rising. Finally, North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, starting the Korean War.

The war's effect on those who survived, the countries, and the trajectory of warfare is not to be understated. The armistice between North and South Korea was signed on July 27, 1953, ending the war. Not only was there no victory for either side, but untold amounts of people were either killed or missing in action on both sides of the conflict. 

Society needs to document these stories – not for profit, but to demonstrate that these people lived and mattered, and to learn from their experiences. The following are objects documenting the war and its many facets, snapshots in time rather than an exploration of the entire expansive conflict. As you explore this page, ask yourself why preserving and documenting the displayed materials are important . If they were not archived, what would be missing in the archival and historical record?

Media Coverage

US journalism and media coverage of the Korean War compared to World War 2 marks a turning point from the optimism of WWII to the pessimism of the Vietnam War. The cooperation between the military and journalists was positive during WWII; however, their relationship was strained during the Korean war due to the South Korean retreat. Journalists started to report on the miserable condition of the war, which caused the media coverage around it to be censored until the armistice.

One of the aspects that journalists focused on before the military mandated censorship is the terrible condition of the soldiers that were fighting in the war, whether it be the casualty rates or the morale of the forces. This attitude would carry over to the US coverage of the Vietnam War, where the condition of the soldiers during the war would be reported with honesty. It brings up the question of the role journalists play in reporting on those who risk their lives during warfare.

These newspaper clippings show a snapshot of what the coverage behind the war was like when it was still going on. When reading these, reflect on the role that journalists play in the recording of war.

Armistice

After three years of fighting between North and South Korea, Communist and Capitalist, it became apparent that the conflict had to end in some way. The war was dragging on two long and peace talks were not going to resolve the situation. In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower took steps to figure out what might end the war in Korea. In July 27, 1953,  the armistice was signed, which caused a new demilitarized border to be put in place between North and South Korea. The thousands of POWs were given the choice of staying in the country or leaving for their home country.

The Korean War did not end with a peace treaty, but a cease-fire agreement between the parties involved. It must be noted that South Korea never signed the armistice agreement. As you look at the record below, reflect on what it takes to end a war, whether a compromise like a cease-fire is good if peace is not an option.

In Memorial

The end of the Korean War not only brought tragedy to those who lost loved ones, but also caused ramifications that changed the way war was waged and covered by the US. The end of the war saw a new border be put between North Korea and South Korea; while the armistice was signed, an actual peace treaty was never put into place. Over 2.5 million people died in total, while over 7 thousand American soldiers are missing in action. In the end, nobody won the war, causing frustration with many Americans and keeping tensions between the countries at a boil. Despite the result of the war, it is important to remember those who were involved with the war and sacrificed themselves for their country.

Perhaps the strongest sign of remembrance for those who died in the Korean War is the Korean War Veterans Memorial located in Washington D.C. Created in 1995, the memorial consists of 19 statues of American soldiers, which represents the navy, Marine Corps, air force and other service men that served in the Korean War. Additionally, the mural wall of 41 black granite slabs are meant to honor the memory of military contingents that supported the foot troops. As you look at these images, reflect on the value of memorial sites like this and the role they play in remembrance.