The Forgotten War

What do you know about the Korean War?

Who started it? Who participated? When did it happen? Who won? Aftermath?

As part of our Korean-American identity, it is important for us to understand how the Korean War affected both the Republic of Korean and the United States.

First we begin with WWII

WWII (1939-1945)
Who participated in WWII?
Axis vs. Allies

Who won?

Which countries were part of the Axis?

Hint: Hitlers Germany

Axis of Evil
Nazi Germany (Hitler) Japan (Hirohito) Italy (Mussolini)

Which countries were part of the Allies?

Hint: America

Allies (good guys)

US (FDR) Britain (Churchill) Soviet Union (Stalin) France China

Japans control of Korea

1910: Korea is annexed (taken over) by Japan before the start of WWII Lasted throughout WWII
(Aug 22, 1910 - Aug 15, 1945)

Japanese forced occupation

In theory Koreans and Japanese were equal under the Japanese emperor
In reality, the Koreans were treated like a conquered people

Late 1930s- 1945 the Japanese attempted full assimilation of the Koreans
Made them speak Japanese (Korean was outlawed) School was taught in Japanese Korean newspapers and magazines were shutdown If it were not for the Allied victory in WWII, Korea and its people may not exist!!!!

Allied Victory!
Towards the end of WWII, the Soviet Union declared War on Japan Following the atomic bombs, Japan was looking for a way to end the war
Aug 15th, 1945: Japan surrendered unconditionally The Russians then occupied Korea up to the 38th parallel while the US occupied south of the 38th parallel

Following WWII: What do we do with Korea?

Both Russia and the United States agreed to stay in Korea to help rebuild the government
Mistrust began to grow between the communist Russians and capitalistic Americans 1948
Republic of Korea officially took control of the South Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea was declared in the North

1948-1950: Many bloody skirmishes between the North and South

What happens on June 25th, 1950?

Start of the Korean War

June 25th, 1950 The North officially attacks the South
The industrial based North Korean forces greatly exceed the Souths agricultural based forces

What did the North Korea forces look like?

North Korean Invasion Forces

231,000 Soldiers 274 T-34-85 Tanks 150 Yak Fighter Planes 110 Attack Bombers 200 Artillery pieces 78 Yak trainers 35 reconnaissance aircraft

North Korean Reserve Forces

114 Fighters 78 Bombers 105 T-34-85 Tanks 30,000 Soldiers

Ok, what did the South Korean forces look like?

South Korean Forces

98,000 Soldiers
(65,000 Combat, 33,000 Support)

0 Tanks 22 piece air force

12 Recon type planes 10 Fighter planes

How do you think South Korea did against the North?

Yes, the South got pwned

US intervention
Did the US help the South immediately?

US intervention
US undecided in entering the war Korea was not a strategically important location Afraid a war in Korea would be a diversionary assault that would commit their forces to Asia US intervenes in the thought that this aggression left uncheck would promote further communist aggression elsewhere!

Korean War
Even with the initial US intervention, the US/S.Korean forces get pushed down to Pusan By Sept, 1950, all that was left under UN control was 10% of Korea BUT, with continual US reinforcements from Japan and Tank battalions shipped directly from San Francisco, the UN forces outnumbered the NK forces 180,000 to 100,000

South Koreas GDP growth 1911-2008