After World War II, rival groups emerged on both sides of the 38th parallel, with two very distinct ideas
about what form a unified post-colonial Korea should take. A nascent communist regime had formed in the north, while strongman Syngman Rhee headed the interim government in the south. The United States, in
frustration, handed the question over to the United Nations in 1947, which was supposed
to oversee elections to decide the future of the country. The North, however,
would ultimately reject the plan.
Above, a sign on one of Seoul's four Great Gates welcomes the short-lived U.N. Commission on Korea. The Great Gates were erected around what was once the walled-city of Seoul in the late 14th century. There were once four of them, guarding the north, east, south, and west entrances. Today, while Seoul has other, smaller gates, only two of the four great gates are still intact. The west gate was taken down by the Japanese, while the south gate -- which had been designated Korea's foremost national treasure by the government in 1962 -- was heavily damaged in a fire in 2008.
Courtesy of koreaBANG
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