HUFFINGTON POST

Iconic Photos Give A Glimpse Of What Modern South Korea Used To Be

Acclaimed Korean documentary photojournalist Min-jo Jeon’s work captures an emerging South Korea of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Dohoon Kim and Terence Kim HuffPost Korea

Today, South Korea is known as a bastion of modern fashion, architecture and K-pop music. But it is almost surreal to see what the country used to look like and how people lived.

Across the 1960s to 1980s, 62-year-old Korean documentary photojournalist Min-jo Jeon, who worked at the Dong-a Ilbo and Korea Times newspapers for some 30 years, traveled around South Korea and took photos of an emerging South Korea. 

Min-jo Jeon's work will soon be displayed at the National History Museum in Jongno, Seoul. The exhibition, named "Pictures Tell the Story," starts Nov. 26 and will run for two months.

Scroll down to take a look at the photos:

  • Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, 1978
    Formerly a dock to the Han River, a major river in South Korea, Apgujeong-dong is now one of Seoul's main high-end <a href="h
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell the Story
    Formerly a dock to the Han River, a major river in South Korea, Apgujeong-dong is now one of Seoul's main high-end shopping districts.
  • Building 3.1, Seoul, 1969
    <strong></strong>Completed in 1969, Building 3.1, at 31 storeys high,&nbsp;was Seoul's first skyscraper.
    Min-jo Jeon , Pictures Tell The Story
    Completed in 1969, Building 3.1, at 31 storeys high, was Seoul's first skyscraper.
  • Island of Hahtae, Shinan, Jeollanam-Do Province, 1972
    Everyone in the family, including young daughters, pitched in with household chores, such as gathering sticks and straw.
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    Everyone in the family, including young daughters, pitched in with household chores, such as gathering sticks and straw.
  • Former First Lady Young-soo Yuk, June 1972
    Former first lady and&nbsp;mother of current South Korean president Geun-hye Park greets visitors at a charity event.
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    Former first lady and mother of current South Korean president Geun-hye Park greets visitors at a charity event.
  • Local Bus Station at Eulgi-ro, Seoul, 1976
    Today, Seoul's&nbsp;bus system provides cheap transportation to millions of citizens. But in the 1970s, there was often a sho
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    Today, Seoul's bus system provides cheap transportation to millions of citizens. But in the 1970s, there was often a shortage of rides.
  • Wake of Doosan Corporation Founder Doo-byung Park, 1973
    Doosan Corporation was one of the rising business corporations, or chaebols, of its time, and was headed by Doo-byung Park. I
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    Doosan Corporation was one of the rising business corporations, or chaebols, of its time, and was headed by Doo-byung Park. In this photo, Park's relatives gather at his wake.
  • Outside a Train Station Ticket Booth, 1978
    People throng a&nbsp;booth for train tickets, which at the time were supposedly unattainable.
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    People throng a booth for train tickets, which at the time were supposedly unattainable.
  • Farmer, 1982
    A farmer smiles up at the sky.
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    A farmer smiles up at the sky.
  • Ok-yoon Gil Plays The Saxophone, Sept. 1982
    Ok-yoon Gil was not only an amazing saxophonist, but also one of the premier composers of what is now known as modern Korean
    Min-jo Jeon, Pictures Tell The Story
    Ok-yoon Gil was not only an amazing saxophonist, but also one of the premier composers of what is now known as modern Korean pop. He was also the husband of famous Korean diva, Patti Kim.

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