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Photos of Korea, Circa 1906

Many thanks to my wife for finding and saving these (she’s standing over my shoulder). Unfortunately, she didn’t think to save the link, so I’d appreciate it if anyone could tell me where these were originally published. The photographer was … some German guy. Some of the pictures seem so real, you almost expect the subjects to shoo you away. Scroll over them for captions, and look for them in a book soon to be published. Pick up an extra copy for me….

Downtown Seoul, Kwanghwamun Palace in the background. This is the original, before the Japanese destroyed it and built a fascist monstrosity in its place. The palace has been restored beautifully.

There's such timelessness in this picture. The street-side hat-sellers and shoe-menders can still be seen. The shop on the left is a pawnbroker.

Muakje, northwest of Seoul, just beyond the city gates.

Women.

Ox Cart.

Barbarians, taking the measure of one another.

Anyang, south of Seoul

Pusan Harbor.


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  1. The book by the Bishop woman — I think that was her name – also has some great pictures and illustrations from the same period or earlier.

    An interesting thing — my step-grandfather took photos during the war, and you can see a lot of men in the same white outfits from these early 1900 photos (not literally the same outfits – ah – you know what I mean……)

  2. Korea has come such a long way. Its a crying shame that half of the peninsula cant partake in the growth & prosperity of the other.