HomePast, Present & Future of DMZthe Korean War (June 25, 1950)Damage of war
 
 
The Korean war that lasted for 3 years 1month started by the southward invasion of North Korea not only brought great loss to the ROK forces, U.N forces, North Korean army and the CCF but also reduced most of the territory into ashes.
 
The casualties of the ROK and the UN forces unit :persons
Classification Killed Wounded Missing and imprisoned Total
Total 95,800 294,280 89,262 479,342
ROK forces 58,809 178,632 82,318 319,759
U.N forces 36,991 115,648 6,944 159,583
1. U.S 33,642 92,134 5,178 130,954
2. Britain 1,086 2,674 1,129 4,889
3. Australia 332 1,216 72 1,620
4. The Netherlands 124 645 3 772
5. Canada 516 1,212 32 1,760
6. France 269 1,008 19 1,296
7. New Zealand 43 79 1 123
8. The Philippines 112 229 57 398
9. Turkey 724 2,068 409 3,201
10. Thailand 130 1,139 5 1,274
11. The Republic of South Africa 35   8 43
12. Greece 186 543 2 731
13. Belgium/Luxemburg 106/2 336/13 1 443/15
14. Ethiopia 122 536   658
 
Civilian Casualties unit : persons
Classification Number of people
Killed 244,663
Massacred 128,936
Wounded 229,625
Kidnapped 84,532
Lost 303,212
 
From now on, our independence national defense should provide firm stand to suppress and remove any kind of rash wars and as the motive power of peace keeping, leading the country to peaceful reunification, the firm stand provided should be impenetrably maintained. Finally, we must try to build up national power that will support this firm stand.
 
   
         
Inspecting on the North Korean prisoners before they were sent from the Wonsan beach to Busan. The number of communist prisoners were over 135,000 at November 3, 1950   CCF prisoners wearing winter clothes and hats caught at the North Korean region. The number of CCF prisoners that surrendered to the U.N forces in the North Korean region at November 9, was about 60,000.   A picture taken by Pappy Noel showing the desire to return to their parents arm at hometown. This is one of the four pictures taken at the 5th prisoner concentration camp at Northern Pyeonganm, Byeokdong. From the left, William Hall from Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S, Charles Kook Äî from Trenton, New Jersey, Corporal Abraham Cunns from Whicha, Kansas and corporal William Coks from Gary, state of Indiana.
         
   
         
1 American and 69 South Koreans were killed at a riot held by communists in the Geojedo, Geongnam concentration camp were 160,000 CCF and North Korean prisoners were committed.   The national holiday ceremony held at the CCF concentration camp. The Chinese flag is raised and prisoners saute the national flag. (1951.10.10)   Weapons and propaganda bills made by the prisoners at the 72nd concentration camp. Ironware of shoes were used to make knifes and spear, oil cast were used to make daggers, wood was used to make riffles and hand grenades were made by cans. (1950.6.18)
         
   
         
A CCF prisoner that has lost a leg is returning from the repatriation region at Panmunjeom.   A UN forces prisoner exchanged with a communist soldier is being transferred by helicopter at April 20th, 1953.   President Lee Seungman having a conversation with ambassador to the United States, Muccio. Opposing to the armistice agreement, president Lee Seungman freed 25,000 communist prisoners.
         
   
         
The communist prisoners who have denied returning to their homeland and have chosen to stay at South Korea are welcomed by the people of Seoul. A woman is showing them a piece of paper with the name of her relatives. (1954.1.20)   People from the guidance executive department affirming the CCF that have taken the road to Taiwan.   Corpse of political offenders killed by the North Korean army at the region the ROK forces were occupying. They were found as the U.N forces invaded the North at October 1950.
         
   
         
To whom did these clothes belong to? Two children standing at the road, one wearing a jumper from the U.S army longer than his own height and the other wearing a big overcoat.   ¡±I¡¯m hungry¡±At the state of disorder, the people facing difficult situation suffering in hunger have become extremely cold-hearted and rough-tempered. A pitiable scene where the children holding cans beg for food to survive. However, they have survived and grown to play the leading part in the developed Korean nation.   Everyday widows who have lost their husband and children at the war increased in countless numbers. Young widows fixing the walls of the house provided by the government. (1954.10.16 Busan)
         
     
         
Children in a line waiting for the food rationing. At the time, there were 9 food rationing centers in Seoul, such as the one shown in the picture.(1953.4.21)   The war brought by the People¡¯s army of North Korea caused enormous damage to the nation. At the crossroads of life where people have even lost tears, the situation where the family members had to be satisfied with a single spoonful of rice was nothing unusual.