Retro Summer Scenes

[Anchor Lead]

How was the summer scene in Korea 40 or even 50 years ago? As we enjoy the sultry summer of 2017, let’s take a look at Korean summers dating back half a century.

[Pkg]

In summer of 1960, people cool off in the water in the dog day heat with temperatures well above 30 degrees. Children also play in the water, beating the heat.

[Soundbite] (Daehan News (1960)) : "People having escaped from city centers are filled with healthy laughter."

Vacationers seek out nearby rivers and beaches. A rubber tube is all one needs to feel a slice of paradise.

[Soundbite] Jang Geum-ok (Seoul Resident) : "People went into the water in shirts and pants, carrying watermelons. No one wore swimsuits. No one had them then, only those who were very rich."

Haeundae Beach in Busan, a popular summer destination, was as crowded in the past as it is now.

[Soundbite] Jeon Ho-jun (Incheon Resident) : "Haeundae was packed in the summer. There were no structures on the beach like today so the sandy beach was more spacious."

With large numbers of people gathering at these locations, the commercial practices of some vendors became a social concern and made news headlines.

[Soundbite] (Daehan News (1981)) : "Hotels and restaurants at vacation spots should charge customers fairly and uphold commercial ethics for an enjoyable summer."

[Soundbite] Heo Seung-won (Nat'l Archives of Korea) : "The archives hope people can walk down memory lane through the disclosed records of summer scenes in past years."

It was time to recharge, away from the heat and daily grind. The specifics may have been more modest than they are today, but the summer scenes of enduring the heatwaves have not changed much over the decades.