Powdered milk and ladies' shoes

The streets of Seoul in the summer of 1952 in the image taken by Fred Dustin/ Robert Neff Collection

By Robert Neff

Seoul is a vibrant, never-sleeping, energetic city of museums, palaces, shopping centers, restaurants and contemporary culture hubs that beckons tourists (of all ages) from around the world. Traffic jams of buses, taxis and cars try even the most patient while subways ― packed during the rush hour ― rush commuters to and fro. The Seoul of the present is not the Seoul of seventy years ago.

In the spring of 1953, Seoul was a city of ruins ― a victim of the on-going Korean War. Families were torn apart by differing politics or the shifts of battle lines. Sometimes, if they were lucky, they were reunited, but far too often they remained broken, and many children found themselves in orphanages.

Theresa A. Potter, a member of the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada, was a witness to the pain and suffering endured by the young victims of the war. She wrote about her experiences in Korea ― which were reprinted in her local press ― and cautioned her readers to not "compare, judge or evaluate anything in Korea by Western standards."

Times were tough and people did what they had to do in order to survive as seen this image taken by Fred Dustin in the summer of 1952. Robert Neff Collection

"This is the Orient," she wrote, "with its own timeless tradition and unique culture, its wide-spread poverty, its own standards of education, cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation. Added to that is the fact that for nearly three years this country has been completely disrupted by war, its economy shattered, its manpower drained, its cities and communications destroyed and its people killed."

She went on to add that everyone she encountered in the streets had been greatly affected by the war ― especially the refugees from the North who had lost everything they possessed except the rags that clothed their gaunt bodies. Thousands of them lived on the outskirts of the city in straw huts that would not be considered good enough to serve as chicken coops in North America.

Korean children always captured Dustin's camera lens. His images are refreshing because instead of concentrating on the ugliness of war, he tried to capture the stoic innocence of the youth. Robert Neff Collection

Potter had come to Korea to help establish the milk program for children. One of the first people she met was Kim Tae-son (1903-1977), the mayor of Seoul. Having lived and attended school in the United States, the mayor was easily able to express his appreciation to Potter and her organization for getting the "fine milk" to Korea so quickly. He assured her that the "people of Seoul will never forget."

The mayor was not the only one expressing his appreciation for the Canadian milk. Lee Chong-bok, whose nephew received milk daily at one of the primary school told her in broken English, "Canada people very good people. I want thank very much."

Almost 70 years later, this little boy's smile is still infectious. Robert Neff Collection

Potter was worried the children would not like the powdered milk. Prior to this, the only milk most of the children had tasted had come from their mother's own breasts. She was greatly relieved when she observed the children wolf down the warm milk ― they even went so far as to tip the cups up so as to get the very last drop.

When Potter visited Nam Dae Mun Primary School, she was impressed with the students and their teachers. The school was badly damaged during the war and very little had been done to repair it as construction material was hard to come by and the icy wind howled through the broken windows.

I am not sure if it is curiosity or mischievousness that radiates in this image taken by Fred Dustin in 1953. Robert Neff Collection

The children were inadequately dressed as most of them did not have coats, many did not have socks, and while a large number of them had shoes ― they were clearly worn out and barely serviceable. Despite the cold, the children seemed excited by her visit.

"Koreans children are the most lovable you can imagine, with mobile little moon faces, one moment happy, the next sad," declared Potter who then went on to add, "When you speak to them they are often overcome with shyness, and hand their heads, then run away."

A mother and her child in the street in 1952 or 1953 in this image taken by Fred Dustin/ Robert Neff Collection

While her descriptions of the schools were somewhat lighthearted and warm, her descriptions of her visits to the orphanages are dark:

"The Korean orphanages I have visited are terribly poor, cheerless and tragic, and the thin little bodies, unhappy faces of most of the children are in keeping with their comfortless, squalid surroundings. Everywhere it is the same story ― too many children, too little food, clothing, fuel, supplies. Also in the shattered economy of this war-torn country, the directors and staff of these institution receive no salary ― only their board and food, such as it is ― so it is not altogether surprising that they do not take the interest in their charges which they otherwise would."

Potter noted that many of the U.N. military units did try and help by donating food, candy, toys and clothes ― it wasn't enough.

Siblings and friends in the street in 1953 in this image taken by Fred Dustin/ Robert Neff Collection

One orphanage she visited had 80 children who ranged from the ages of 3 to 16. These children were, for the most part, from North Korea. Many did not know if their parents were still alive, while others witnessed the death of one or two of their parents. "Many wandered for days before they were rescued, lost, starving and sick."

The orphanage received very little help ― save that from an American warrant officer who occasionally visited with candy and chocolate bars and some government stores. The orphanage, originally a farm, was run-down with no electricity. Fortunately, the children were able to gather twigs and sticks from the nearby forest to use as fuel for the ondol.

A man repairing shoes in 1953 in this image taken by Fred Dustin/ Robert Neff Collection

The orphanage was also blessed with the surviving denizens of the former farm: "four ducks and a few scraggy hens, whose eggs are divided among the most delicate children." These eggs were used to supplement the porridge made from wheat flour and water.

Through the aid of her interpreter, Potter was able to speak with the children, who, despite being shy, all assured her they were happy to be at the orphanage as opposed to being in the streets and begging for food.

The lack of food was not the only thing the children suffered from. She was told that very few of the children had underwear. Potter later wrote, "I could see [lack of underwear] was only too true when a group of tiny girls, excitedly running towards me, stumbled and fell.

A small child shyly trying to get Dustin's attention in 1952/ Robert Neff Collection

Even shoes were hard to come by.

"One small eight-year-old, Chang, cut a strange and memorable figure. He wore a faded cowboy shirt held together in front by a large safety pin, khaki trousers made from a U.S. army blanket, and an ancient pair of black suede pumps with very high heels! But instead of looking comic, as he certainly should have, Chang was somehow just indescribably pathetic. Some of the other boys too, wore women's shoes, far too large for them. There are just not enough children's shoes to go around."

When asked about his shoes, Chang wisely noted that "Ladies' shoes are better than no shoes."

I would like to express my appreciation to Diane Nars for her fantastic assistance. I would also like to remember my old friend Frederic H. Dustin whose pictures were used to illustrate this article. Dustin died on Children's Day (May 5) in 2018. [please link https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/05/177_248659.html] Considering his great fondness for children ― especially Korean children ― I think it was a fitting day for him to pass from this world. May he always be remembered.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.