Making the Korean War "contemporary"

The online Smithsonian Magazine has a fascinating series of color photographs from the Korean War. (Hat tip to Cactus McHarris commenting on the Marmot's Hole.)

There's an interesting article on the photographer, then a war correspondent for a variety of wire services and networks. His name is John Rich, and he's now ninety-one years old, living in his hometown of Cape Elizabeth, Maine (pictured below half a century ago). 

As a long-time Seoulite, I think it's fascinating how much and how little has changed. The concrete-ensconced rooftop workspace Rich uses above looks like it could be my ex's house. Another photo has a hanbok-clad harabŏji standing in front of a burnt-out modern city (and, no, that's probably not an opium pipe he's got there). 

The long-ago Korean War seems even more ancient thanks to all the black-and-white photos, but these color-rich Kodachrome pictures make everything seem much more real, even modern (I've heard the same sentiment about the Korean War film "Brotherhood"). As one photography expert was quoted: "When you see it in color you do a double take. Color makes it contemporary."

I want people to visit the article, so I deliberately didn't post my favorite picture, the one with the kids playing on a deserted street near a very recognizable Seoul City Hall. That's not too far from where I live. In fact, I recognize the location of a lot of photos.

Seoul residents might easily see that the picture below is the heart of Seoul facing southward. Namsan, minus N-Tower (Seoul Tower, Namsan Tower, whatever it's called nowadays). If you look closely you can see the buildings of modern Seoul, which was many millions smaller than it is today. At that point there was little urban development on the south side of the Han River, which is now lined with apartment blocks and high-rises. Some at Marmot's Hole think the photo was taken from Mt. Puk'ansan, but I think it is from the high hills right behind the Blue House.