Expat talks on WWII prisoners in Korea

The Royal Asiatic Society will host a talk on Feb. 26 on the allied prisoners of war held in Korea during World War II.

Jacco Zwetsloot will give a talk on the approximately 1,500 allied prisoners of war held in Korea from September 1942, consisting of British and Australian troops captured in Singapore and American soldiers captured in the Philippines.

There were three camps run by Japanese officers and staffed by Korean conscripts and civilians. A few of the prisoners died, but most were rescued and brought home after the war.

Zwetsloot will also explain how their locations were recently rediscovered by himself and Matthew Van Volkenburg.

The talk is free to attend for RASKB members and 7,000 won for non-members and takes place from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Residents’ Lounge of Somerset Palace near Anguk Station.

For more information, visit raskb.com.

(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)