The Korea Stamps Society (KSS) is pleased to the present another article of Stewart Steres’ Series “South Korea’s Commemorative Booklets/Albums”. This article is about Eisenhower’s visit to South Korea in 1960.
Eisenhower and the Korean War
After five years of simmering tensions on the Korean peninsula, the Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the Northern Korean People’s Army invaded South Korea in a coordinated general attack at several strategic points along the 38th parallel, the line dividing communist North Korea from the non-communist Republic of Korea in the south. North Korea aimed to militarily conquer South Korea and therefore unify Korea under the communist North Korean regime. Concerned that the Soviet Union and Communist China might have encouraged this invasion, President Harry S. Truman committed United States air, ground, and naval forces to the combined United Nations forces assisting the Republic of Korea in its defense. President Truman designated General Douglas MacArthur as Commanding General of the United Nations Command (UNC).
Thank you for your exciting article. My father, now 93 years old and one year younger than Clint Eastwood, remembers that the Korean public welcomed warmly President Eisenhower with upmost sincerity and glory. The Koreans admired him as the real war hero of WWII rather than a simple politician, just like Argentina welcomed Lionel Messi after world cup victory in 2022. I regrettably admit that we had so many real heroes in those days, but what about the current generation? Do we have really heroes in the contemporary world? Almost everyday I observe the degradation of human beings. Am I too pessimistic?
Does someone have images of the cards and postmarks on page 7,8,9,10,11. I am also looking for images of the following presentation books for the opening of the house of councillors (including the liberation day of Aug 15 and for the New Republic plus 75th year of the telegraph service?