Han Youngsoo (1933-1999) was relatively unknown outside of Korea during his lifetime. Youngsoo grew up in a well-to-do family in Gaesung, Korea, where he took painting and drawing lessons and pursued photography as a hobby. When he returned to Seoul at the end of the Korean War, he found a devastated, impoverished city after taking part in bitter frontline fighting as a young South Korean soldier. Choosing photography as a profession, Youngsoo witnessed the rapid development of Seoul as a modern city and urban society.
Youngsoo’s photographs provide a fascinating look at the everyday lives of ordinary men, women, and children in the city. Even though he was interested in exploring the modern urban culture that was rapidly taking shape, Youngsoo did not overlook the surviving customs and architecture of old Seoul. The artist also took note of the changing status of Korean women, who were discovering new roles as entrepreneurs or consumers, as shown in his photographs of narrow streets lined with well-stocked fashion boutiques.
The war had taken away many things, Not only had it mercilessly trampled down on our beloved families and neighbors, but also their happiness, hope, and furthermore humanity itself. As if that wasn’t enough, by the end it had utterly destroyed everything on the face of the earth leaving behind ruins, despair, famine and sorrow.
