South Korea and Japan in the 1950's - 8mm Home Videos

[MsMieru]

感動した

[Nurde]

ahhhh, the good ol days. Wait, I wasn't even born then.

[samaz2u]

They are playing some type of korean song in the back ground; at least until 3:21. I actually think that is all Korean music. Some of the Korean music after 3:21 sounds kind of like Irish music to me.

[iMisogynist]

@samaz2u  1:18 sounds like arirang.

[samaz2u]

They are playing some type of korean song in the back ground; at least until 3:21. I actually think that is all Korean music.

[toe39]

To me, this footage really highlights the contrast between the two nations by switching back and forth, compared to the contrast now 60 years later.

Third world countries should never lose hope. Who knows, some of them may surpass Korea in less than 60 years, without the devastation of war and constant security threats.

[frce68]

although 50' , Japanese seem to be much richer than Korean. But, Japanese must understand the situation that Korea was not always poorer than Japan. In Silla or Baeje or Koryo period or Joseon early period, Korea was not poor. Confucianism is one of causes about why Joseon people was poor. Other cause was Korea-Japan war in 1592 that caused a sharp decline  of Korean population & agricultural land.

[azumahayato2011]

Not Japan, most this scenes are only Korea scenes.

[sourcemaster]

@kotaroux4 Did not learn that through Korean text books at all.

[icylakepaxphile]

@schijnsel そうでしょう？ですから平和を大切に考えてください。

[BostonSparky]

Love the soundtrack!

[TomoexNanami]

the korean children are soo cute in their hanboks!

[earthboundcruiser]

I would say almost all the urban footage was from Japan. As far as I know Koreans were using Hangeul as soon as the Japanese left the country. All the urban footage you see here has Japanese characters. Also, many women are wearing more Japanese styled foot wear. All the rural footage is Korea though.

[RealDetectives2010]

the ladies look korean.

[olympusnikon1]

wome of them are in japan and some are in Korean... anyway this is valuable one for sure..

the ladies look so much japanese.. and the cars and stuffs

[cookie57554]

my mom lived like that in korea ;'''') i love u mom

[MIGATITAUSA]

So who are these woman in the videos? Are they comfort women? This is the first footage I have ever seen of old Korea not looking like a dirty dump. I am also surprised that the people don't seem to be afraid of the white men. Did these people know you well? Why aren't they hiding their faces or running away? That's the way they act towards me in the Seoul 2010

[kero7642]

@MIGATITAUSA it was just after the korean war when a lot of americans came to fight so i think they must've been pretty close

[britney4korea]

koreans need to work on branding their country.  they need to work on making korean food famous.

[likewhoa23]

I have often looked at the images of my grandfather's korean photos in black and white. I have wondered what it was like, thanks for sharing this. I can better imagine what it was like when he was in the military via Korean conflict, he was a doctor. :')

[helixator]

Great footage. I spent time both Korea and Japan. This film has bits of both countries. 7:00 to 8:42 is Japan. See women in kimono, tabi and geta 7:48, red/white bunting. 7:30, Shinto Tori 7:12, and katakana signs advertising milk & coffee 7:39. Shotengai 7:18. Etc Fascinating to see the old motor trikes. Great stuff. Well done Cecil.

[helixator]

1;09-1.20 is Japan for sure. 1.11 woman under the umbrella wears tabi slippers. 1:15 woman wears red kimono.1:38 sign for Asahi beer. (Pretty much the only local beer in post WW2 Korea was Chosun Breweries).1:14 cars are left hand drive not right (as in ROK from Sept 1945). IMHO much of this footage is taken in a Japanese red light district. See Mama-san at 1:26, girls behind wooden barred genkan 1:18 and kissaten door 1:29. Sign at 1:37 says Welcome Seamen"! (I have a hunch it's Osaka).

[jared10011]

From 1:15 to about 2:01 the location is Japan, not Korea...

[shoemanbundy]

I don't think the Japanese writing alone would mean it's Japan. Korea had a significant amount of Japanese writing around still because of the previous Japanese occupation, and I'm also pretty sure the people who archived this video know where it was filmed :P

[cecilcounty]

that could be true... the soldier may have traveled there on "R & R" ... I will have to check with him

[Teppi9076]

Very nice video. Beautiful children.

[Shubba2529]

Great video of happy Korean children during a rough time in their country! It's good to see that the men of this country,(USA) who were there during the Korean War,in which my Dad was one of,did such good deeds for those kids. The film itself must have been kept in a cool,dark place to last long enough to be in good enough shape to make it to the digital world! Good job Cecil County.

[Shubba2529]

What a great video! My Dad served in Korea with the 45th Division-179th Infantry Regiment from 51 to 52 and he's told me about being in town on leave & seeing children & giving them chocolate bars. He said that would just make a kid's day,over there at that time. Cecil County, who ever you are, I figure you were probably in the Combat Engineers in Korea,one guy in the video had a castle on his collar, anyway, this is the best video,of the people of Korea,during that time,that I've ever seen !