Tamara and I went to Hallyu! The Korean Wave – an exhibition at the V&A in London that showcases the popular culture of South Korea and its global impact on cinema, drama, music, fandom, beauty and fashion.
OK, I went because Tamara wanted to go, and I enjoyed it despite thinking that I wouldn’t because it was loud and in-your-face.
But, what was most interesting to me were the photos and documents from the 1950s and the Korean War, including these safe conduct passes that encouraged enemy soldiers to surrender.
The BEARER, regardless of his military rank or
nationality, is hereby unconditionally guaranteed free-
dom from personal injury, maltreatment or abuse.
will receive medical treatment if necessary and may
retain all personal possessions.
This Safe Conduct Pass is issued to enable Officers
and men of the American, British, Philippine, Turkish
and other foreign forces in Korea to withdraw from
active combat. Use of this Pass will prevent unneces-
sary and meaningless sacrifice in this aggressive war
instigated and waged by the American imperialists and
will ensure that the BEARER gets home safely.
The BEARER has only to put dowa his weapon,
present this Pass to any member or unit of the Korean
People’s Army or the Chinese. People’s Volunteer
Forces, salt “Surrender*” and he will be well treated.
By order The Korean People’s Army
The Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces
BRITISH SOLDIERS
DON’T RISK YOUR LIFE FOR YANKEE DOLLARS!
[ Let ] the American millionaires and their gangster-
politicians do their own fighting.
Here is a letter written by T. Campbell of Liverpool to his
son from which you can imagine what your own loved ones at
home are longing for you to do.
Mv Dear Son:
I am writing again to you. I don’t know if you
received my last letter or not. How are you? Son. I hope
you are alright. I am glad you are out of danger being a
prisoner. The other soldiers are having a rotten time and
still there is no sign of this Government breaking with
America who are the course of all the trouble. They are
going to cause a world war and England is just doing what
they want them to do. While you poor fellows are suffering.
Well, son, we are all looking forward to having you home
with us soon and believe me I would hope you to be a con-
scientious obiector to war than be in the army again to fight
against a country who are only like ourselves, fighting for
their rights – but these big money bags here and in America
only want wars to make more money for themselves.
Teddy, wish you could see the baby, now, he is a big
fellow but his father said he would shoot him sooner than
let him go in the army. Patsy and Peter are OK, they send
their love to you. Well Teddy good luck, look after yourself.
I am always thinking of you.
Your loving mum and dad.
SAFE CONDUCT PASS
SOLDIERS OF THE UN FORCES:
This certificate guarantees good
treatment to any enemy soldier
desiring to cease fighting. Take
this man to your nearest officer
and treat him as an honorable
prisoner of war.
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army
Commander-in-Chief
WHO IS AGGRESSOR OF KOREA?
Is it possible to say that the U.S. Imperialists, who are here imperialists,
more than: 6,000 miles away from their country across the Pacific
Ocean are not aggressors and to say that the Chinese People’s
volunteers, who are aiding the Korean People’s Army to defend their
own country across the Yalu River less than half amnile wide, are
aggressors?
THE US IMPERIALISTS ARE AGGRESSORS !!
If you want to wipe to wipe away the disgrace of aggression and to re
turn home alive, surrender to the Korean People’s Army or to the
Chinese Peoples Volunteers
If you become a prisoner war you will be secured of future
happiness but If you resist you will suffer Immediate death.
How I Grabbed The Text
I used TextSniper on my Mac to grab and extract the text from the images. Given how crumpled the paper is, the app did a really good job.
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