Geoje POW Camp Park
Gyeongsangnam-do
Geoje POW Camp Park is a historical site located on Geoje Island in South Korea, commemorating the largest United Nations Command prisoner of war camp during the Korean War. Established in early 1951, the camp housed over 130,000 North Korean and Chinese prisoners captured during UN counteroffensives. The camp was constructed in a challenging environment with scarce natural water resources, requiring extensive engineering efforts to supply water to prisoners, locals, and refugees. The camp consisted of multiple enclosures subdivided into compounds originally designed for 700 to 1,200 men but often overcrowded to five times their capacity. This overcrowding led to complex security challenges, including mass demonstrations and riots, due to limited and inadequately trained guards. Today, the park preserves this significant historical legacy, featuring exhibits and memorials that reflect on the hardships endured by prisoners and the broader impact of the Korean War. Visitors can explore the site to gain insight into the human stories behind the conflict and the efforts to maintain order in such extreme conditions.
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Astuce: The best time to visit Geoje POW Camp Park is during spring and autumn when the weather is mild and pleasant. Visitors are advised to purchase tickets in advance through official channels or authorized travel platforms to ensure smooth entry. The park offers educational exhibits and guided tours that provide deeper understanding, so joining a guided visit is recommended. Discounts may be available for groups, seniors, or students. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested due to the site's expansive layout.
Faits intéressants
- •Geoje POW Camp was the largest UNC prisoner of war camp during the Korean War, holding over 130,000 prisoners at its peak.
- •The camp was built in two rock-strewn valleys on Geoje Island's north coast, with four enclosures subdivided into eight compounds each.
- •Due to lack of natural water sources, dams and rainwater storage systems were constructed to supply water to prisoners, locals, and refugees.
- •Overcrowding was so severe that compounds designed for 700–1,200 men held up to five times that number.
- •Limited and inadequately trained guards struggled to maintain security, leading to mass demonstrations and riots within the camp.
Histoire
The Geoje POW Camp was established in January 1951 during the Korean War as a response to the rapidly increasing number of prisoners captured by UN forces following the Inchon landings and the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter.
Initially, prisoners were held near Pusan, but overcrowding and security issues prompted relocation to Geoje Island.
The camp was constructed in difficult terrain with limited natural resources, necessitating the building of dams and rainwater storage.
Over time, the camp became overcrowded, with compounds housing up to five times their intended capacity, leading to security challenges and prisoner unrest.
The camp operated throughout the war and today serves as a memorial and educational site.
Guide du lieu
Camp Enclosures and Compounds1951
The camp was divided into four enclosures, each subdivided into eight compounds. Originally designed for 700–1,200 prisoners, these compounds were heavily overcrowded, allowing prisoners to communicate and organize within and between compounds.
Water Supply Infrastructure1951
Due to Geoje Island's lack of natural water resources, dams and rainwater storage facilities were constructed under Colonel Hartley F. Dame's command to provide water for prisoners, locals, and refugees.
Memorial Exhibits and Educational Facilities
The park today features exhibits and memorials that educate visitors about the camp's history, prisoner experiences, and the broader context of the Korean War.
Contact
Téléphone: 055-639-0625
