The Korean War and Psychoanalysis: Temporary Reconciliation or Therapy?

Abstract

This study critically examines the reception of psychoanalysis during the Korean War, which has previously been explored primarily through contextual evidence. In 1949, the U.S. military institutionalized lessons from military psychiatry extracted from past wars. Psychoanalysis, as a dominant psychiatric approach at the time, wielded significant influence in the formulation of these lessons, and the impact of “therapy” within the U.S. military was remarkable. The probability of soldiers returning to the frontlines increased significantly compared to before the implementation of therapy, and frontline commanders could better manage combat readiness. With the outbreak of the Korean War, the U.S. military extended these methods to Korean military officers, marking the inception of psychoanalysis in Korean psychiatry.BR However, the situation in the Korean military was not smooth. Whether officers or soldiers, very few had access to mental treatment, and suffering was largely left to individual service members. While measures were taken on the frontlines to prevent mental breakdown among soldiers following the established protocols, many continued to suffer in the aftermath of the war. While efforts were made by Korean military psychiatrists and officers, their options were limited in the Korea of that era, which was essentially a barren land for psychiatry. It is clear that Korean military officers contributed significantly to the post-war development of psychiatry in Korea. However, it’s important to remember that many soldiers endured mental anguish without receiving any help.BR Therefore, psychoanalysis as a form of military psychiatry during that era could be evaluated as a temporary reconciliation strategy that aimed to sustain soldiers’ combat readiness on the frontlines rather than a complete therapeutic solution. Its effects were short-term, and thus, it couldn’t prevent veterans from suffering mental anguish until their deaths. The presence of individuals haunted by trauma lies beneath the broader progress of Korean society, and their contribution to shaping today’s Korea despite their suffering provides substantial insights for our reflections on Korea today.