THE KOREA STORY

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 30, 1952

This is John Caldwell's story, as told to Lesley Frost, of his days in Korea with the U.S. Information Service from 1947 to 1950. It is a story told with a feeling for color and connecting circumstances and the complex of socio-political currents- as well as animus against the foibles of the State Department. Caldwell and his wife settled first in Chunchon, where they experienced the problems of American-Korean fraternization, the spread of anti-communist propaganda north of the parallel, the 1948 elections, land reform, and the overwhelming difficulties of economic stabilization after 40 years of Japanese occupation. This leads to the question of language disparities, of the task of talking to Koreans in terms that would be meaningful to them, ECA and the question of military aid, as well as the duplicity of State Dept. officials, who are criticized all along the line. In a last chapter which he devotes to the work of missionaries, he establishes his sympathies in the line of quiet, direct work with the people-on a smaller scale which would develop trust and understanding.... Some sidelights on the eastern scene which are enlightening but do not exclude the strong possibility of bias.

Pub Date: Sept. 30, 1952

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Henry Regnery

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1952

Categories: NONFICTION