As the Korean war (1950–1953) drew to a close and South Korea began to rebuild, American GI Roger Marshutz (1929–2007) was stationed in Pusan to photograph U.S. reconstruction efforts. In his spare time, Marshutz also wandered the streets, documenting the daily life of Korean civilians. The Forgotten Home Front: Roger Marshutz’s Photographs of Pusan, South Korea, 1952–1954 offers both an official and unofficial look at U.S.-South Korean relations, as well as a portrait of a country in the midst of enormous political, economic, and cultural transformation.
Based on the new book, historian Sean Kim will discuss the crucial role of Pusan during the war and the pivotal moment in modern Korean history.
About the Speaker
Speaker
Sean C. Kim
Sean C. Kim is Professor of History at the University of Central Missouri, where he teaches courses on East Asian, world, and US history. Kim received his Ph.D. from the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. His research focuses on modern Korean religious history, in particular, the emergence of Protestant Christianity. Kim is currently working on an edited volume on Korean religions.
