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Korea does not have a tradition of carrying for orphans. Family is very important to Koreans and still is. Orphans who were not taken in by family faced a difficult life and the younger children a desperate stuggle for life itself. We know of no orphanages or institutional fscilities crrying for orphabns until the 20th century. The first known orpohanage was Pung Duck Won (1913). Several other orphanages appeared during this period, most of Christian foundation and financed by American or European Christisn charities. Many more were set up after Japan surrendered and the United States and the Soviet Union occupied the country. This was a period of enormous disorder. The Japanese including Japanese civilisans left. Koreans were returning from Japan and other foreign areas where the Jaopanese had taken them. Large numbers of abandoned or orphaned children were wandering about the streets. Many small orphanages were established, again often involving Christian foundation. It was the Korean War, however, that created an unprecedented refugee and orphan problem. Many civilians were killed in the fighting. The North Koreans executed many South Korans, both people associsted with the Government and social classes like merchants and landowners believed to be hostile to Communism. In the wake of the War, over 100,000 orphaned children wandered the streets. Some 400 orphanages were set up for the children, many supported by American servicemen and overseas Christian charities. Placing the children proved a problem. Few Korean families wanted to take in orphans, A factor here was economic devestation, but perhaps even more important was a cultural predelection against caring for unrelated children. So the orphanages began placing the children abroad. Many of the early adoptions were mixed-race children, the children of Anmrican servicemen and Korean women. Korean attitudes toward racial purity led to these children being turned over to orphanages and eventuslly adopted overseas. Koreans had no problem with this as it was seen as a way of getting rid of children that were not fully Korean. Foreign adoptions, however, continued with fully Korean babies. These foreign adoptions eventually became a national embarassment as Korean became one of the Asian Tigers and an increasingly affluent country.
Korea does not have a tradition of carrying for orphans. Family is very important to Koreans and still is. Orphans who were not taken in by family faced a difficult life and the younger children a desperate stuggle for life itself.
In the first year of the War, with major North Korean , American, and Chinese offensives, where huge numbers of refugees fled the fighting and the Communists The refugees often fled as families, but in the tumultuous war- time conditions families became separated. And countless orphaned children were appeared as parents were killed or families just separated. As Korea with no tradition of caring for orphans was not equipped to deal with the children during that first crisis year. It was inevitable that many of the children were drawn to the American troops, they had food, clothing, and warm quarters. The plight of kids in danger of course draws the attention of any one with a heart. Now once orphanages were founded there were places to care for the children. But that first year there was not yet safe places where the children could be sent. It was common for American soldiers to unofficially adopt children, always boys. Ac factor here was that boys were bolder and thus more likely to approach the American GIs. The boys also could make themselves useful perforning chores around camp. The same situation developed in Europe, especially in Italy during World War II.
We know of no orphanages or institutional fscilities crrying for orphabns until the 20th century. The first known orpohanage was Pung Duck Won (1913). Several other orphanages appeared during this period, most of Christian foundation and financed by American or European Christisn charities. Many more were set up after Japan surrendered and the United States and the Soviet Union occupied the country. This was a period of enormous disorder. The Japanese including Japanese civilisans left. Koreans were returning from Japan and other foreign areas where the Jaopanese had taken them. Large numbers of abandoned or orphaned children were wandering about the streets. Many small orphanages were established, again often involving Christian foundation.
It was the Korean War that created an unprecedented refugee and orphan problem. Many civilians were killed in the fighting. Civilians caught in the crissfire between the waring armies. The North Korean Army as they moved south also sumarily executed executed many South Koreans, both people associsted with the Government and social classes like merchants and landowners believed to be hostile to Communism. In the wake of the War, over 100,000 orphaned children wandered the streets.
Some 400 orphanages were set up for the children, many supported by American servicemen and overseas Christian charities. Korea had a Christian minirity. This was supressed in the North, but not in the South. Korean Christians played a role in creaing the new orphanages.
The American support for the Korean orphans were the GIs serving in Korea who saw the desperate need up close and personal. Countless American GI's helped save the lives of thousands Korean orphans during and after the Korean War. It is one of many forgotten stories about American exceptionalism that does not fit the narative that the media, academia, and Hollywood are determined to project. There was no national organization, only individual GIs and small groups who set out to save the children. 【Long】 American GIs are believed to have saved some 10,000 Korean children who lost their parents and living on the streers of largely destroyed cities, facing rampant disease and starvtion. any more thousands of children were supported during and after thec War. One of those GIs who served in Korea began compiling accounts of the orphans year after retuning to the states.
【Drake】 Years later South Korean film producers sought out Drake to learm the details of how the children were saved. It went largely unrepoorted in Korea and America. One of the jourmslits was fascinared by the story. "What amazed me was … that George Drake had such an unbelievable attachment with these kids, which he still does." 【Oh】 One of the orphans who emigrated to America and adopted an American name relates, "I love these people — they took care of me. I had no clothes. No food. Looked like a wild doggy. How sweet, how warm their hearts." 【Rue】 He keeps two well-worn photographs in his wallet. One of him at age 10 years in surplus American uniform items, the other with several grinning U.S. soldiers. The same GI who collected the information recalls arriving at Uijeongbu near the DMZ (1952). He and other soldiers volunteered at a nearby orphanage, where they were greeted by a dozen children. He reports that “They were starved for affection."
【Drake】 And not just affection. They lacked everything, they were starving — malnourished, diseased, barely clothed and dirty. Just arriving from America, it was shocking. And the sanme was iccurung at GI posts throughout South Korea. Soldiers that preceeed him has been writing letters hom, describing the dreadful conditions. Much of the same had occured in Germany after the War. But in Germany the post-War Government stpped uo to aid refuges and orophans. This was not occuring in Korea.
【Long】 The soldiers wrote letters home and described the dreadful conditions, especiall the plight of the orphans. Packges and dimations began arriuving from American churches and civic orgnizations like the Elks and Rotary clubs. The outpoing of compassion was overwealming. TheArmyeventually had to leasea frighter to bring the packages to Korea. Food, clothes, and supplies began reaching the orohbages. The director of field operations during the war for the Christian Children’s Fund estimates that the GI's audedcsoime 100,000 ababdined Korean children during and ruht after the War. He says, “I refer to them as an army of compassion, and it really was exactly that." 【Ashbury】 And that assistance continued on a smaller scale for years as the orhanans were placed and many orphanages closed. I recall an orphanage we assisted when I was stationed in Korea (1972). We stoped by with food every week on maul runs to a hawk missle base.
Christmas is of course a magical time for children. And the American soldiers helping out and the various orphanages that were opened in Korea wanted to make Christmas a special time for the children who had lost their parents. It was a perfect fit as the soldiers were away from home and for the most spending their first Christmas away from the family. Doing something to bring a little joy into the lives of these children, helped to make the holiday special. The various units would collect money to pay for decorations, food, and of course presents, both clothes and toys. Not only did the donations come from men in units supporting the 400 orphnages, but also men in units that were not supporting orphanages. Many men wrote home to inform their family and friends as well as the churches they attended. Of The money wentv to support Cgristmas parties for the children. Of course the parties were huge hits. Most of the children had bever seen anything like these parties. And there was always a Santa Clause who never failed to delight the younger children. They sat on Santa's lap just like Ameruican kids. Here is an example of what was taking place all over Korea. "WITH EIGHTH ARMY --- Plans are being laid by the 728th Military Police Battalion, to bring Christmas cheer and spirit to some 200 Korean orphan children in three orphanages in their area come Dec. 25. This MP unit, commanded by Lt. Col. Alonso E. Wood, of Lynchburg, Va., is going all out to make Christmas an enjoyable time for the children of the Al Kwhang and Boo Ik orphanages in Inchon, and the Suwon Free orphanage garden in Suwan. The officers and enlisted men of the battalion have set up donation boxes in all companies. The money will be used to buy gifts on the Korean market. Individual gifts will be wrapped, using the holiday wrappings from boxes and packages received from the States and delivered to the three orphanages on Christmas day." 【728th MPs ...】 American soldiers in Korea continue this tradution to this day, akthough in amaller scale as the need is no longer so great in modern prosperous Korea and there are far fewer American soldiers in Korea.
There was a need to permnently place the children rather than care for them permantly in the orphanages. few of which had needed resources. Placing the children proved a problem. Few Korean fanilies wanted to take in orphans other than family relations, A factor here was economic devestation, but perhaps even more important was a cultural predelection against caring for unrelated children. So the orphanages began placing the children abroad.
one very special adoption was 11-year old Song Young Cho (1953). Song was the first child to be admitted to the Uited States under a new law for Korean War orphans. He is also special because as a war refugee he lost his legs and feet to fostbite. An American Army medical team not only fitted him with new feet and legs, but he has learned to walk with them. Mrs. Richard Gormanson was waiting for him at the Seattle Airport. It was her husband who fitted him with his new new feetr and legs, although we are not sure the Girmanson's adoppted him. A newspapr article desctibes Song as always having a smile on his face which is incredible given what he had gone through. With is ciowbioy had abf nlue jeabns, he looks like any normal American kid wghen he arrived in Seatle. Many of the early adoptions were mixed-race children, the children of Anmrican servicemen and Korean women. Korean attitudes toward racial purity led to these children being turned over to orphanages and eventuslly adopted overseas. Koreans had no problem with this as it was seen as a way of getting rid of children that were not fully Korean. Foreign adoptions, however, continued with fully Korean babies as well. These foreign adoptions eventually became a national embarassment as Korean became one of the Asian Tigers and an increasingly affluent country.
Ashbury, William. Director of Field Operations in Korea, Christian Children's Fund.
Drake, George. "George Drake". Website dedicated to honoring the thousands of American GIs who helped save Korean war orphans.
Long, Katherine. "Veterans' forgotten story: How thousands of Korean orphans were saved," Seattle Times (November 10, and updated November 11, 2010).
Oh, Jessica. Korean film maker in Korea.
Rue, Bob. Korean war orphan saved by American GIs.
"728th MPs Plan Fete For 260 Korean Kids," Pacific Stars and Stripes (December 12, 1951).
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