ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4444
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD 0021) 24 November 1950
| PW NAME: | KIM Ik Myong (金益明) (김익명) |
| RANK: | Civilian |
| AGE: | 27 |
| DUTY: | None |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School - 4 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Office clerk |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HONGCHON (洪川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 9 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | MANCHURIA, MUKDEN-SHI, YANG KAHWANG-KU, TONGSAN-PO (滿州 奉天市 楊家荒區 東山浦) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | SEOUL-SHI, MAPO-KU, TOHWA-TONG, #364 (서울市 麻浦區 桃花洞 364) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HATTORI (ATIS) |
Cooperative and sincere. Talked at great length and without hesitation.
GENIAL INFORMATION - MUKDEN-SHI (奉天市), MANCHURIA - 1924 to Mar 48
Population:
Total population of MUKDEN was estimated at 1,500,000 in Mar 48.
| 1945 | 1948 |
| Chinese - 85% | Chinese - 90% |
| Korean - 8% | Korean - 6% |
| Japanese - 6% | Japanese - 2% |
| White Russian - 7% | White Russian - 7% |
| American - 3% | American - 3% |
Since the termination of World War II, the Chinese population has slowly increased, whereas the Korean population decreased. This was brought about by the fact that the Chinese (not CCF) wanted to control the Whole city. With all the influential and important government and political offices held by the Chinese, they tried their best to get rid of the Koreans. Up to early 1948 many of the Koreans had given up the struggle in MUKDEN and returned to their native country. There were frequent cases of race riots, which were participated in by large numbers of men. Due to the fact that all police officers were Chinese, the offenses were usually blamed upon the Koreans. Such incidents kept the two races far apart from each other.
The majority of the Chinese in 1948 were engaged as merchants and shop keepers. Many influential men held city-government and political offices. Only the very poorest of the Chinese were engaged in agriculture or general labor. As for the Koreans, 70% of them were engaged as merchants or shop keepers, 20% earned their livelihood through farming, and 10% subsisted as general laborers. Almost none, if any, Koreans held public government positions, including the local fire and police departments. There were numerous Japanese doctors, factory technicians, and ether specialists in MUKDEN as late as early 48. There were hearsay reports that they were being forced to stay MUKDEN against their will. It was apparent that these men were irreplaceable. White Russians earned their living as merchants and seemed to be prospering. The majority of the Americans located in MUKDEN in early 1948 belonged to the US Consular Office in one way or another. Others were engaged as foreign traders and buyers for US farms.
As late as Mar 48 (before the arrival of CCF) there were no labor organizations in MUKDEN. As long as the workers followed the city’s ordinances, they were free to carry out their businesses.
Education:
Despite the lack of public schools and institutions of learning, a compulsory education system was in effect. Usually, a child was compelled to undergo 6 years of schooling. Many who was not able to afford the tuition and other fees, simply did not attend schools. Approx 70% of the Korean children and 60% of the Chinese children attended school. There were numerous schools, for both races, which were kept apart. A pupil attending a Korean school in MUKDEN was not forced to study the Chinese language.
There were at least 20 middle and high schools, which accounted for approx 40,000 well-to-do or ambitious students.
There were at least 6 universities or colleges, of which the 3 largest were - MANCHURIA Medical College, MUKDEN Agricultural College, and TONG PUK University.
The educational standard of MUKDEN was always considered to be the highest in all MANCHURIA.
Religion (in 1948):
| Chinese | Korean |
| Buddhists - 40% | Buddhists - 20% |
| Confucius - 40% | Confucius - 20% |
| Christians - 10% | Christians - 20% |
| Non-Believers - 10% | Non-Believers - 40% |
Since the CCF, up to Mar 48, had not entered MUKDEN, freedom of religion was still in effect.
Health & Sanitation:
Despite the abundance of numerous diseases, there were few epidemics in MUKDEN. A cholera outbreak during May to Jun 47 killed several thousands in MUKDEN alone. “Manchuria Typhus”, a cross between eruptive and abdominal typhus, was also prevalent, especially among the poor people. Bubonic plague deaths are reported from time to time in the city.
Immunizations were, given to the population periodically on a free-basis. The people received two smallpox vaccinations and from one to three cholera and typhus shots every year. The inoculations were very effective and immensely cut down the mortality rate. Up to Mar 48 all vaccines and anti-toxin serums used were US made.
To combat against these diseases, the Chinese Government began to enforce some sanitation regulations in MUKDEN after the end of World War II. City sewers were cleaned, disinfected with lime, and covered with concrete lids. People were forbidden to throw trash and waste material in the streets. The government encouraged the residents to disinfect .their homes and clean out the rubbish. Campaigns were started to rid the city of some of its rats. Despite the half-hearted efforts of the government, the majority of the people were slow to accept new changes, and they contributed nothing to the sanitation program of the city.
There were no public clinics or hospitals in MUKDEN. The majority of the patients were treated at private hospitals or at homes.
There were many we11-qualified doctors and abundance of US made medicines as late as Mar 48. Even if a patient was not able to afford treatment, some form of medical attention was given to them without payment.
For the Commanding Officer:
GERARD
