Agenda

Jiyun Kim, Zürich University

Abstract
Werner Bischof, a Swiss professional photographer, visited Korea in 1951 in order to document the Korean War. The children's situation of the Prisoners of War camp on Koje island was faithfully reflected in Bischof's photographs.
To understand the "horrors" of the Keje POW camp that Bischof spoke of, it is necessary to look not only at the photographs, including the negatives and contact sheets, but also at the reports from the Keje POW camp. They are very disturbing material, but also very important. It is a very important chapter of world history that is largely neglected in Europe.
Bischof believed that only holistic, in-depth images which reflect truthful situations will bring "future development." Bishop's photographs raise questions and create understanding and reconciliation between different generations.

Appendix:
By the end of the 19th century, many interpreters of Joseon were able to witness the fast-changing world at the scene. They formed groups where they wrote poems and painted, and especially discussed their concerns on the modernization of Joseon in the midst of the urgent global situations. Ji Unyeong (池雲英, 1852~1935, 지운영) was also in the group.
A research on Ji Unyeong has not been that active. His artworks were just considered as one of the artworks that were drawn during the transition era from the traditions to the modern times. The value and meaning of his paintings can be discovered when they are explained through his life and the social context of the time he was in. Ji Unyeong had many talents, well versed on the international situations, and participated in various activities with the intention of modernization.
Sanintakjokdo (山人濯足圖), which is his last known work, was submitted to the Joseon Art Exhibition (朝鮮美術展覽會) in 1922 when he was 72, and then disappeared. In 1958, it travelled the world in the hands of Hungerbühler, and quietly appeared to the citizens of St. Gallen in 1959, and then disappeared again. The first time the news of his Sanintakjokdo (山人濯足圖) was heard by Koreans since 1922 was 95 years later in 2017, through the Korean Art exhibition from Swiss Collections that was held at Historical Folklore Museum St. Gallen.
Although he never lived the life of recognition in the modernized Korea, which he tried and aspired to be all his life as a middle class member in the late Joseon Dynasty, through his numerous efforts, the last talent he showcased for the last time in his life is now being introduced to the world as the painting by the Korean painter Ji Unyeong, in Switzerland.

Bio: I was a full-time teacher at a high school in South Korea. I received my Master's degree from Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea for my discovery of the units of measurement used in ancient Korean Buddhist art, and my PhD from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, for my thesis on Korean culture and art introduced to Switzerland in the 1950s.

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This event was supported by the Seed Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2020-INC-2230010).

Image credits: © Werner Bischof / Magnum Photos