[Korea Encounters] Dark Christmases amid crises, dictatorship in early 1970s

Last-minute shoppers, published in The Korea Times Dec. 23, 1973. / Korea Times Archive

By Matt VanVolkenburg

In the 1960s, growing prosperity and Westernization led to a variety of Christmas traditions being adopted in South Korean cities. Christmas Eve became infamous for the revelry and cacophony of merrymakers enjoying the single night of the year when the midnight-to-4 a.m. curfew was lifted.

During the 1970s, however, economic conditions abroad and growing authoritarianism at home led to more subdued Christmas celebrations.

Christmas cards, published in The Korea Times Dec. 10, 1972. / Korea Times Archive

In early December 1970, The Korea Times reported on Christmas-related goods for sale such as inexpensive plastic Christmas trees, greeting cards, and "New Year's calendars on display at streetside booths." Despite the variety and quantity of goods available, a saleslady in the newly opened Cosmos Department Store in Myeong-dong said, "I foresee sales will drop sharply this Yule season. There has been an unprecedented business recession toward this year-end."

Christmas decoration, published in The Korea Times Dec. 6, 1970. / Korea Times Archive

One way to fund Christmas shopping, The Korea Times reported on Dec. 20, was to turn to pawn shops for cash. A decade earlier there had only been 15 in Seoul, but by 1970 there were 250 in the city, and 870 across the country. "According to a Seoul city government tabulation, about 810,000 persons borrowed 2.7 billion won" from Seoul's pawn shops in 1969.

Pawn shop, published in The Korea Times Dec. 20, 1970. / Korea Times Archive

Pawn shops saw customers double in number as Christmas approached. "Among the customers are romantic lovers anxious to give Christmas gifts to their sweethearts, smaller merchants forced to pay their debts before the year turns, and pitiful unemployed husbands eager to please their wives and children during the New Year season."

On Christmas Eve in 1970, the sale of firecrackers and paper bugles was banned and the crowd of 100,000 people that filled Seoul's downtown drinking spots began to thin after 10 p.m. Despite this ban, over 20,000 revelers were caught by police across the country.

Early Christmas decorations, published in The Korea Times Dec. Dec. 10, 1972. / Korea Times Archive

Earlier that day, amid complaints that the true meaning of Christmas was being lost due to commercialism and partying, National Assembly speaker Rhee Hyo-sang said, "Let's pray to God that we overcome materialism and degeneration and revive morality and ethics from degradation so that we may enjoy eternal happiness."

Rhee's comment was an omen of things to come. Almost a year later, on Dec. 6, 1971, President Park Chung-hee declared a state of emergency due to the threat posed to South Korea's security by the admission of communist China into the U.N. and "fanatic moves" by the North Koreans. He urged "every citizen" to be prepared, if need be, "to concede some of the freedom that he enjoys for the sake of national security."

Santa Claus, published in The Korea Times Dec. 26, 1970. / Korea Times Archive

Christmas Eve in 1971 once again saw around 120,000 people celebrate downtown, but police reported that people mostly headed home before midnight, despite the fact that the government had lifted the curfew. As well, only around 10,000 people were caught for violations ― half the number of the year before.

It was thought that "the government declaration of an emergency situation apparently led citizens to spend the holy night in a quiet atmosphere. Most Seoulites observed Christmas Eve with their families at home, refraining from sprees as before."

The holiday atmosphere was shattered on Christmas Day as news broke that the Daeyeonggak Hotel, near Seoul's central post office, was on fire and that people were jumping out of the windows. Because the fire engine ladders were not tall enough to reach even halfway up such a tall building, people climbed out windows on ropes made of bedsheets, or jumped while holding mattresses. Helicopters managed to rescue a number of people. Despite this, 164 people died ― at least 38 of whom jumped to their deaths ― making it the world's deadliest hotel fire.

Those hoping for a more festive Christmas in 1972 had their hopes dashed when, on Oct. 17, Park declared martial law, dissolved the National Assembly and put into place the Yushin ("revitalization") Constitution. The new constitution removed limits on Park's reelection, let him appoint a large percentage of National Assembly members and allowed for presidential elections by an electoral college. On Dec. 23, 1972, Park was elected president, though this was a foregone conclusion since he was the only candidate.

That same day, The Korea Times reported that the education ministry had printed a new book to guide teachers as they taught students about "Koreanized democracy," which would fit "Korean society and her traditions, getting away from the past habit of blindly following a democratic system that fits westerners."

Calm Christmas campaign, published in The Korea Times Dec. 26, 1972. / Korea Times Archive

Authorities under the new system continued to preach thrift, which did little to help businesses selling Christmas-related goods. A Dec. 10, 1972 Korea Times article noted that "the downtown streets of Seoul are somewhat indifferent in appearance. Seldom heard are Christmas carols and rarely seen are Santa Claus models."

Christmas card printers were also struggling, saying that "many citizens think that exchange of Christmas cards is wasteful and against the spirit of Yushin." "So, we've worked out less wasteful cards for this coming Yuletide. The new-type cards have small calendars printed on them. And that's our Yushin."

A card seller in Shinsegae Department Store, on the other hand, thought people were more than willing to buy cards since he was ringing up 200,000 won in sales every day. As well, the post office was kept particularly busy, sending out 500 calendars every day, 70 percent of which were sent to Japan and the U.S.

Despite the Yushin authorities' calls for frugality and order, the lifting of the curfew on Christmas Eve still continued in 1972, though that year it was intended "to commemorate Park Chung-hee's inauguration as president with a six-year term." Celebrations that night involved 110,000 people downtown, but it was reported that a calm mood prevailed, much to the chagrin of bar and store owners and taxi drivers (though movie theaters did brisk business). Social campaigners urged people to return home early, and police reported 40 percent fewer violations than the previous year.

On Christmas Day, President Park "told the Cabinet to eliminate any spending for what was believed to be 'unproductive and ostentatious' and transfer them, instead, to an assistance program for the poor and needy during the holiday season." He also made no plans to lavishly celebrate his inauguration and urged citizens to spend the New Year holidays with family at home.

While in 1972, "a mammoth Christmas tree decorated with tens of thousands of glimmering electric bulbs [was] erected over the fountain in the Seoul city hall plaza," such displays would all but disappear in 1973.

This disappearance was because in October 1973, OPEC began an oil embargo, targeting countries that supported Israel during the Yom Kippur War, and the resulting global rise in oil prices and inflation left the authorities proclaiming once again the need for austerity.

Energy conservation, published in The Korea Times Dec. 23, 1973. / Korea Times Archive

On Dec. 23, The Korea Times reported that there were going to be "no brilliant Christmas decorations on Seoul's streets this year due to the Seoul City government's ban on such electric lamp decorations by department stores, commercial arcades and hotel and public buildings to reduce energy consumption." Additionally, every other streetlight was to remain dark.

Christmas card sellers reported a 15 percent drop in sales compared to 1972, in part because card prices had been raised "because the recent oil pinch has caused a 30 percent increase in paper prices." Still, the Midopa Department Store, one of the five large department stores in central Seoul, claimed 150,000 visitors per day before Christmas, while Shinsegae claimed 60,000. Both Midopa and Cosmos reported that the most popular gift was sugar, suggesting that people were choosing practical necessities as gifts.

After 1973, the tradition of a curfew-free Christmas Eve continued, though police reported 107,500 merrymakers out in the streets of South Korea's five largest cities, a drop of 27,000 from the year before. As well, only 2,659 violations were reported ― a far cry from the 20,000 of three years earlier.

Despite the "predictions mount[ing] pointing to a bleak winter" and "a period of privation and austerity," as James Wade put it on Dec. 22, 1973, there were still moments of humor to be found. At the end of one of his 'Scouting the City' columns, in which he expanded on the idea that "Christmas is people, not things," Wade noted, a "garbled carol…some moppets flopping with us were heard keening:" "Ramyeon Virgin so tender and mild."

Matt VanVolkenburg has a master's degree in Korean studies from the University of Washington. He is the blogger behind populargusts.blogspot.kr.