How it happened – Two Koreas

“The Korean Peninsula is one of the most fascinating places on our planet. Callista and I recently visited South Korea – including the capital of Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone.

I have always been personally interested in Korea and its history, because my father served in the Army there in 1953 during the Korean War and again in the 1960s. When he was there, he mostly saw poverty, pain, and destruction – some of the most difficult living conditions fathomable.

But since my father served there, South Korea has become a modern-day miracle – partly because of the spirit and determination of the South Korean people, and partly due to the dedication and commitments made by the United States.

Seoul has grown from a population of 10 million to more than 25 million. It is now the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the world.”