Unmasking hidden history
Part 1: Mass Executions in Korea: Commission Probes Hidden History of 1950
The long-suppressed story of the mass killing of South Korean prisoners and civilians by their own U.S.-allied government early in the Korean War has been excavated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For the first time, a prison guard describes the massacre he witnessed.
My Role: Multimedia Producer, Designer, and Video/Photo Editor
This multimedia package features two investigative stories based on declassified documents from South Korea and the U.S. For the first part, I edited and transcribed video footage and translated documents from Korean to English. I also designed the interactive elements and edited all photos for distribution via the AP server.
Key Outcome:
A Historic Interview: We produced the first-ever video interview with a witness and a shooter from a mass execution—a very brave and conscientious man, Mr. Lee Joon-young.
Recognition & Legacy:
The package was nominated for the Asia Society’s Osborn Elliott Prize. Later, I conducted research, translated documents, and created all the maps for Charles Hanley’s 2020 book, Ghost Flames, a character-driven narrative of the Korean War. The Korean edition of the book was published in 2025.
“Even now, I feel guilty that I pulled the trigger,” said Lee Joon-young, 83, one of the executioners in a secluded valley near Daejeon in early July 1950.
