Exhibition commemorates decades of U.S., Korea relations

"Katchi Kapshida! We Go Together!”- Legend has it that the wartime leaders during the Korean War (1950-53), including General Douglas A. MacArthur, General Matthew B. Ridgway, General Chung Il-kwon and General Paik Sun-yup, shook hands with this...

“Special Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance" at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno District, central Seoul. [NEWS1]

“Katchi Kapshida! We Go Together!”- Legend has it that the wartime leaders during the Korean War (1950-53), including General Douglas A. MacArthur, General Matthew B. Ridgway, General Chung Il-kwon and General Paik Sun-yup, shook hands with this phrase at Suwon Air Base 70 years ago.

Seoul and Washington signed a Mutual Defense Treaty and established an official military alliance the same year.

Commemorating the 1953 ironclad relationship that has continued to the present day, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno District, central Seoul, is showcasing its “Special Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance” series.

An outdoor display at the front gate, “ROK-U.S. Alliance Through Numbers” kickstarts the exhibition with eye-catching installations highlighting the significant aspects of the alliance.

Eleven more sections, including “Top 10 Heroes of the ROK-U.S. Veterans” and “Six Major Dramas of the ROK-U.S. Alliance,” are placed in the lobby and on the third floor.

Outdoor display of “Special Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance" at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno District, central Seoul [NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY KOREAN HISTORY]

Over 70 archival items are on display alongside images, timelines, comics and media art, all detailing a critical process of the treaty conclusion, military and security cooperation, economic aid and strengthening of the strategic 21st-century alliance.

“Of particular note is our emphasis on the historical fact that immediately after the signing of the United States-Korea Treaty [signed on May 22, 1882], both countries officially dispatched their first diplomatic envoys, going beyond the 70-year history of the ROK-U.S. alliance and shedding light on the 141-year relationship between the two countries,” Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Park Bo-gyoon said in the museum's press release. “This exhibition distinguishes itself from others in this aspect and will be an accessible and engaging opportunity to explore the drama of reversals, transformations and pivotal moments that have unfolded during the 70-year history of the ROK-U.S. alliance.”

The exhibit also highlights some unsung contributors to the Korea-U.S. alliance. Some examples are Park Chung-yang, the first Korean Envoy to the United States, as well as Luscius Harwood Foote, the first American Envoy to Korea, and his wife Rose Foote, who is said to have harbored a particular fondness for Korea.

There is also a display dedicated to items that were donated, mostly by veterans of the Korean War, to the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The hall contains videos from U.S. military archives, artifacts and personal possessions from U.S. troop members who fought in the Korean War as well as materials documenting the health and educational activities of the Peace Corps, providing viewers with a more intimate look into the relationship between Korea and the United States at its budding stages.

President Yoon Suk Yeol visit the “Special Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance" of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno District, central Seoul, on June 29. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who visited the exhibition last week, said that an unabated interest in the alliance was critical for it to continue evolving.

“It is important that the younger generation understands the value of and meaning of the ROK-U.S. alliance that allows us to enjoy freedom and prosperity today,” said Yoon on June 25. “We must not forget the blood, sweat and tears that went into protecting this freedom, and the warm friendship resulting from that effort.”

The museum also plans to open a display on Korean popular culture that explores the mutual influence and exchange of culture between Korea and the United States in July as part of the ongoing “Special Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”

“Special Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance” will be open until the end of this year.

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History opens Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Viewings are free and English subtitles are available.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]