The former Compound 62 (now the Historic Park of Geoje POW camp) on Geoje-do (home to the largest UN-run POW camp for Chinese People Volunteers and North Korean prisoners) in South Korea is well worth a visit.
I went there in mid 2024 myself and it was an eye opening glimpse into this less studied aspect of the Korean War.
There is a memorial to those POWs who were killed (often brutally) by the opposing side for their political beliefs.
The 2004 novel War trash by American writer Ha Jin also gives a detailed (even if fictional) examination of the lives of the Chinese POWs (nor all of whom supported the Communist or Nationalist side) during their captivity.
The majority of Chinese POWs chose to go to Taiwan rather than return to mainland China following their captivity. This was a big loss of face for the Chinese Communist side and also a key reason why the Korean War dragged on for as long as it did. The Chinese and North Koreans insisted that all POWs be returned to their original side when ceasefire talks began in 1961. They only relented on this point and agreed to freedom of choice under neutral supervision in mid 1953.
Taiwan issued a commemorative stamp in 1984 to honor those former Chinese POWs who decided to come to Taiwan – they were called “Anti Communist Heroes”.
jordy_kim on
Welcome to freedom gentlemen!
Much better than enduring the Cultural Revolution
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The former Compound 62 (now the Historic Park of Geoje POW camp) on Geoje-do (home to the largest UN-run POW camp for Chinese People Volunteers and North Korean prisoners) in South Korea is well worth a visit.
I went there in mid 2024 myself and it was an eye opening glimpse into this less studied aspect of the Korean War.
There is a memorial to those POWs who were killed (often brutally) by the opposing side for their political beliefs.
The 2004 novel War trash by American writer Ha Jin also gives a detailed (even if fictional) examination of the lives of the Chinese POWs (nor all of whom supported the Communist or Nationalist side) during their captivity.
The majority of Chinese POWs chose to go to Taiwan rather than return to mainland China following their captivity. This was a big loss of face for the Chinese Communist side and also a key reason why the Korean War dragged on for as long as it did. The Chinese and North Koreans insisted that all POWs be returned to their original side when ceasefire talks began in 1961. They only relented on this point and agreed to freedom of choice under neutral supervision in mid 1953.
Taiwan issued a commemorative stamp in 1984 to honor those former Chinese POWs who decided to come to Taiwan – they were called “Anti Communist Heroes”.
Welcome to freedom gentlemen!
Much better than enduring the Cultural Revolution