Following the Korean War, Han Youngsoo captured the economic and social rebirth of capital city Seoul through his brilliant photographs, unknown to most Americans until now.
After fighting in the brutal war, Youngsoo swapped a gun for a camera, snapping the rebirth of Seoul, which had been economically devastated by the conflict.
From 1956 to 1963, the photographer documented Seoul’s dramatic transformation that saw Western influences give rise to the modern city Korean we know today. As the city changed, so did the people. With impeccable composition, his photographs captured the everyday lives of Seoul’s residents as the city grew into an urban society. As a result, many Koreans are familiar with his work as a historian; his images have become a rich visual record of Seoul in the postwar decade.
Now, the first major U.S. exhibition of Han Youngsoo’s work, comprised of 38 prints, will be at the ICP gallery at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, New Jersey. Opening on Feb. 24, Han Youngsoo: Photographs of Seoul 1956–63, will run until June 9. Click here to learn more.
Enjoy a preview of the exhibit below.
—RealClearLife Staff
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