A blog of the History and Public Policy Program
New and Old Sources on Select Korean War Topics and Issues
In a series of posts on Sources & Methods, Jiyul Kim and Sheila Miyoshi Jager describe several aspects of the Korean War that are in need of greater study, and offer some suggestions for sources, both old and new.
Our forthcoming book, The Korean War: A New History, expected in 2022, is a follow-up to Jager’s Brothers At War: The Unending Conflict in Korea (Norton/Profile, 2013).
In an upcoming series of posts on Sources & Methods, we will briefly discuss several of the topics that our new book explores and introduce some of our sources, both old and new.
Perhaps the most surprising topics are those related to military operations, given the large volume of scholarship and sources on the operational history of the Korean War. We chose three issues from the operational history of the war that deserve a fresh look: the nature of the United Nations Command; special operations; and the Battle of Ch’unch’ŏn that took place in the opening days of the war.
Among newer topics concern the roles of South Korean women, student soldiers (hakdoŭiyong’gun), and boy soldiers (sonyŏnbyŏng), three rarely examined and nearly forgotten participants of the war.
Part 1: The “Greater” UN Coalition during the Korean War
Part 2: Korean War Special Operations
About the Authors
History and Public Policy Program
The History and Public Policy Program makes public the primary source record of 20th and 21st century international history from repositories around the world, facilitates scholarship based on those records, and uses these materials to provide context for classroom, public, and policy debates on global affairs. Read more
North Korea International Documentation Project
The North Korea International Documentation Project serves as an informational clearinghouse on North Korea for the scholarly and policymaking communities, disseminating documents on the DPRK from its former communist allies that provide valuable insight into the actions and nature of the North Korean state. It is part of the Wilson Center's History and Public Policy Program. Read more
Cold War International History Project
The Cold War International History Project supports the full and prompt release of historical materials by governments on all sides of the Cold War. Through an award winning Digital Archive, the Project allows scholars, journalists, students, and the interested public to reassess the Cold War and its many contemporary legacies. It is part of the Wilson Center's History and Public Policy Program. Read more
