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A StudyontheManagementandUseofCaptured MaterialsbytheROK ArmyduringtheKoreanWar

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1문화재청

Accredited

ABSTRACT

During the Korean War,the ROK army captured materials ofvarious forms from the North Korean army and Chinese volunteer army.Their majorcapturedmeterialwasweaponry.Mostofthefirearmstheycaptured wereSovietM-1891,M-1944,and PPSH-41,and mostofthevehiclesthey capturedwereSovietGaz-67lightutilityvehicles,Gaz,andZisvehicles.In addition,they also captured grains,ginseng steamed red,raw silk,and copperplateata gold smelting factory,which reflectthegreatvariety of thecapturedmaterials However, it seems that they had no systematic management or guidelines forcaptured materials in the beginning.Article 31 ofNational Defense Act(國防警備法) which was enacted in 1948 and used as the military law till1961,had provisions aboutpunishments for those who illegally disposed ofcaptured materials.As forweaponry,the ones in a good condition seem to have been included in the firearms ofthe ROK army and used by them on the field withoutparticular registration or managementprocedures.Italsoseemsthattheunitsthatcaptured other types of captured materials frequently disposed of or sold them at discretion. In such a situation, President Syngman Rhee ordered the MinistryofHomeAffairs,thepolice,and therightwingtosuperviseand manage captured materials in October, 1950. The Ministry of National DefensetookovertheresponsibilityinMarch,1951. Captured materials were used in many differentways,whose specific patternswereasfollows:first,thefirearmswerehandedovertothepolice and prison guards in the rearand used in activities to maintain publi peacein therear.ThecapturedSovietpistolswereusedforself-protection by major figures. The captured vehicles possessed by the military or repaired and used bycivilianswerealldisposed ofin October,1956after theArmisticeAgreement.Somecaptured materialswereon displayforthe general public to see in the rear for propaganda purposes. Finally,captured materialsthatwerepeculiarorverysymbolicweregiven toU.S. militaryleadersasgifts.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.