Tuesday, April 19, 2016 – The Asia Society Korea Center welcomed a well-known figure in Korea to its April 2016 Monthly Luncheon lecture with Dr. John Alderman Linton giving a talk on “Understanding North Korea through Pictures”. The Linton family has enjoyed a long and distinguished history on the Peninsular ever since Eugene Bell arrived here in 1895 as an American missionary, and are well known for their contributions to Korean society, especially in the fields of medicine and education. Dr. Linton spoke about his visits to North Korea, of which there have been over 20, giving those in attendance a unique insight into life in the secretive state through his collection of photographs that he has amassed over the years. The 80 slides that Dr. Linton showed included images of medical facilities, the demilitarized zone, Geumgang Mountain and the North Korean countryside. Dr. Linton is President of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare and is also Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine.

Dr. Linton started his talk by giving some history on Yonsei Severence Hospital, explaining how it became the first modern medical facility in Korea following the work of American missionary Horace Allen in 1884. Linton himself was accepted into Yonsei University's medical school as a student before becoming the youngest director of the Severance Hospital International Health Care Center in 1991. Following the death of his father in a road traffic accident, Dr. Linton helped design customized ambulances in 1993 to improve the medical services in Korea. His role in medicine is not only limited to the South as he has been involved in the Eugene Bell Foundation that was set up in 1995 to tackle the problem of tuberculosis in North Korea. Having visited the DPRK on many occasions, Dr. Linton’s collection of photographs gave us a first-hand view inside the country.

The first images that were shown were of Pyeongyang and in particular the 105 Building that dominates the skyline. Dr. Linton commented on the beauty of the capital city and how on his more recent visits he has seen evidence of Kim Jong-un’s reforms. North Koreans are now allowed partial ownership of land, consumer goods are becoming more prevalent and women are now permitted to have plastic surgery or wear pants. Other interesting pictures included those taken at the DMZ where anti American slogans are prominent and the South Korean flag can be seen where the armistice agreement was signed. Some of the most striking images that Dr. Linton showed were of Wonsan Hospital where the medical equipment is old and dilapidated, highlighting the biggest challenge that North Korea faces; the problem with tuberculosis. The Eugene Bell Foundation has helped x-ray over 7 million people and treated 350,000 people against the disease, investing over $30 million in the fight against TB. 

Although at times direct, Dr. Linton was able to show a very real side of North Korea and his commentary on the country was both honest and eye opening.