ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1065 14 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (NAVY SPECIAL REPORT, SERIAL 019) 15 September 1950
SUBJECT: Interrogation of Korean Prisoners
1. On 11 August 1950, HANS EVERTSEN arrived at Sasebo, Japan, with two Korean prisoners who had been apprehended in a boat off the western coast of occupied South Korea. En route to Sasebo from Korea. the EVERTSEN’s Korean liaison officer, Lt. Cdr. PAK Won June, ROKN, interviewed the prisoners and later stated to the interviewing officer of this activity that he was unable to determine accurately whether or not the two prisoners were loyal to the ROK or had Communist tendencies.
2. Subject prisoners were interviewed individually on 12 August 1950 by an American interpreter of unquestioned reliability using the Japanese language, although both prisoners spoke and understood English slightly; both prisoners spoke Japanese fluently and no difficulty was experienced in understanding the answers of the Koreans.
3. The interview with IM San Whan, Korean prisoner, disclosed the following information:
a. IM is described as a Korean male; age 26; born 1 November 1924 at Josangun Hangyomei, Hankyori, South Korea; height 1.7 meter; weight 62 kilos; black hair; black eyes; 1" scar 1" over left eye, 1" scar 3" over left eye.
b. IM gave his last previous address as Seoul City, Shiau-to Niko, 128 Borche, although he stated that his registered domicile was the same as his birthplace. He further stated that his father was dead, that his mother's name was KIM Pun Gyoku, and seemed as a loss to explain the difference in family name, admitting only that his father’s name had been IM, and indicating the possibility of an obscure Korean custom of widows changing the family name after the decease of the husband. He has a tour year old son now residing with grandparents, having been married in 1945 but hie wife having died three years later.
c. IM stated that he had attended Taiden High School, Sakae City, Korea, graduating in 1941 and attending Teacher's College from 1941 to 1942. He then taught grammar school in Korea from 1942 to 1948, during which year his wife died; for the next two years he farmed, and then in June 1949 entered Kunming University, Seoul, Korea, as an economics student. On 16 June 1950, school then not being in session, IM returned to his home town for the purpose of campaigning for the reelection of a member of parliament from the district in which the town is located; the member of parliament was portrayed as a personal friend, and IM was so occupied until 25 June 1950.
d. When the NK attack was launched IM hid out in his home town, waiting to see what would happen, and then on 13 July 1950 went up into the hills with a group of Koreans from his town to wait out the fighting which had advanced to that area; on 18 July 1950 the battle line had passed beyond his immediate area and IM returned to his home town, where, on 28 July 1950, he was joined by his friend with whom he was later picked up. According to IM's testimony, they bad planned to attempt to get to Pusan by following the coast line around to that city, and gave no consideration to any attempt to get there by land due to the necessity of going through the battle lines. As a secondary alternative, they had hoped to be picked up by an Allied warship, many of which were readily in evidence patrolling the coasts of Korea. The ultimate objective of their plan was to get to the Korean Embassy in Tokyo and seek assistance in gaining entrance to the University of Japan to continue their studies. As a consequence they started to sea in a small boat on 31 July 1950, being subsequently picked up by the HMNS EVERTSEN. IM stated that their point of departure from Korea was Chokyuru, about eight kilometers from his home town.
e. IM was unable to furnish any military information of any kind whatsoever, stating that he had not been a witness to any military operations or movements of any kind. 1M seemed to speak with intelligence and sureness, giving the impression of very calm composure under questioning; his personality, carriage, walk, and general demeanor testified to his contention that he had been a student and teacher during most of his adult life, and nothing was developed which led the interviewing officer to believe that IM was telling other than the truth.
4. The signature of the prisoner was taken and is on file at this activity, as are some rough notes which were made by the prisoner for explanatory purposes during his interview with Lt. Cdr. PAK, neither of these items have any apparent value but are retained only for reference purposes if needed.
5. Subject prisoner is presently in custody of this command, but in view of the foregoing information it is the intention of this command to return him to the ROK authorities at Pusan for disposition.
M. C. WALLEY
