By Choe Chong-dae
Yun In-ja (1923-2012) is better known as an actress who appeared in many films than she is for her real-life role in supporting the defense of Korea during the Korean War. Her devotion to her country has only just come to light via a recent book titled "I was a flower of Korea", which was written by Kim Kwang-hui, a veteran radio and TV writer and producer.
Her life was dotted with vicissitudes. Born in Sariwon, North Korea, Yun was sold to another family because her birth parents could not afford to raise her. Her memoirs describe the maltreatment she experienced as a child.
It was Yun's beauty, intelligence, talent and the broad, varied knowledge she gained through her own studies that propelled her from obscurity into Korean cinema.
Yun made her debut as a stage actress in 1941. Her reputation grew as a promising young actress after she played the role of Hwang Jin-yi in the theater drama "Hwang Jin-yi" in the early 1950s which depicts the tumultuous life of Hwang, a celebrated 16th century gisaeng ― skilled female artists in old Korea who entertained male customers with music, conversation, and poetry comparable to a Japanese geisha.
During the Korean War (1950-1953), Yun and several refugees, including lovers of film, flocked to Busan, which became the provisional capital.
While in Busan, Yun met then-Commander Michael J. Luosey of the U.S. Navy at the introduction of Admiral Sohn Won-il, Korea's first chief of naval operations. Luosey was fascinated by Yun at first sight. They fell in love with each other and lived together at Luosey's official residence at the military base.
In July 1950 he had been placed in charge of the Korean Navy's operation as its Deputy Commander, a role he kept till 1952. Luosey played a leading role in the establishment of modern Korea's naval forces and many operations, including the Incheon Landing and the evacuation of South Korea's Third Division troops under siege by North Korea's military in Pohang.
Yun's relationship with Luosey also served the national interest of Korea. In recognition of Yun's contribution, Korea's first President Syngman Rhee praised Yun and called her "a Flower of Korea." He offered a special favor to Luosey and Yun to use the presidential villa in Jinhae for a month. When Lousey left Korea, Yun suggested to him that she was better off remaining in Korea as an actress to make the best use of her talents.
Consequently, she made her debut as a star with the film "Hand of Destiny" in 1954. Notably, Yun presented the first onscreen kissing scene in this film and a nude scene in the film "Life of a Woman" in 1957. It marked the beginning of a modern epoch in Korean film history as up until then erotic scenes were considered lewd in Korea's Confucian society.
Until retirement, Yun appeared in about 100 films such as "A Female Boss" in 1959 and "Red Scarf" in 1965. However, her feelings of loss and isolation caused by tragic circumstances and an unhappy marriage led her to becoming a Buddhist nun in 1976. While ordained as a Buddhist nun, she played the veteran nun in the film "Azejevalajae" in 1989.
Yun In-ja was more than the celebrated actress she's portrayed as. She was a selfless woman who made a personal sacrifice for the sake of Korea with Captain Luosey during the Korean War.
Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com.
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Her life was dotted with vicissitudes. Born in Sariwon, North Korea, Yun was sold to another family because her birth parents could not afford to raise her. Her memoirs describe the maltreatment she experienced as a child.
It was Yun's beauty, intelligence, talent and the broad, varied knowledge she gained through her own studies that propelled her from obscurity into Korean cinema.
Yun made her debut as a stage actress in 1941. Her reputation grew as a promising young actress after she played the role of Hwang Jin-yi in the theater drama "Hwang Jin-yi" in the early 1950s which depicts the tumultuous life of Hwang, a celebrated 16th century gisaeng ― skilled female artists in old Korea who entertained male customers with music, conversation, and poetry comparable to a Japanese geisha.
During the Korean War (1950-1953), Yun and several refugees, including lovers of film, flocked to Busan, which became the provisional capital.
While in Busan, Yun met then-Commander Michael J. Luosey of the U.S. Navy at the introduction of Admiral Sohn Won-il, Korea's first chief of naval operations. Luosey was fascinated by Yun at first sight. They fell in love with each other and lived together at Luosey's official residence at the military base.
In July 1950 he had been placed in charge of the Korean Navy's operation as its Deputy Commander, a role he kept till 1952. Luosey played a leading role in the establishment of modern Korea's naval forces and many operations, including the Incheon Landing and the evacuation of South Korea's Third Division troops under siege by North Korea's military in Pohang.
Yun's relationship with Luosey also served the national interest of Korea. In recognition of Yun's contribution, Korea's first President Syngman Rhee praised Yun and called her "a Flower of Korea." He offered a special favor to Luosey and Yun to use the presidential villa in Jinhae for a month. When Lousey left Korea, Yun suggested to him that she was better off remaining in Korea as an actress to make the best use of her talents.
Consequently, she made her debut as a star with the film "Hand of Destiny" in 1954. Notably, Yun presented the first onscreen kissing scene in this film and a nude scene in the film "Life of a Woman" in 1957. It marked the beginning of a modern epoch in Korean film history as up until then erotic scenes were considered lewd in Korea's Confucian society.
Until retirement, Yun appeared in about 100 films such as "A Female Boss" in 1959 and "Red Scarf" in 1965. However, her feelings of loss and isolation caused by tragic circumstances and an unhappy marriage led her to becoming a Buddhist nun in 1976. While ordained as a Buddhist nun, she played the veteran nun in the film "Azejevalajae" in 1989.
Yun In-ja was more than the celebrated actress she's portrayed as. She was a selfless woman who made a personal sacrifice for the sake of Korea with Captain Luosey during the Korean War.
Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com.
