---
title: "Hungnam Evacuation 1950: Refugee Transport by Sea"
locale: en
category: case_study
category_name: "Case Study"
translation_status: reviewed
license: cc_by
author: "Injoys Editorial Team"
source_url: https://injoys.com/en/articles/hungnam-evacuation-1950-refugee-sea-transport
published_at: 2026-11-10T17:50:37+09:00
---

# Hungnam Evacuation 1950: Refugee Transport by Sea

> The Hungnam Evacuation was an operation in December 1950 that combined the withdrawal of military personnel and supplies with the evacuation of civilians by sea. Accurately understanding its scale and significance requires examining how space was secured for refugees and distinguishing between figures reported by different sources.

## Key Points

- The Hungnam Evacuation was a seaborne withdrawal centered on Hungnam Port after intervention by Chinese forces turned the tide of the war.
- The withdrawal, initially focused on military personnel and supplies, expanded to include civilian transport as space aboard ships was secured for refugees.
- An archival description from the National Archives of Korea gives the operation's dates as December 12 to 24, 1950.
- A special exhibition by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs gives the number of refugees as about 91,000 or 98,000.
- The transport of about 14,000 people aboard SS Meredith Victory was one part of the overall Hungnam Evacuation.

The Hungnam Evacuation was an operation carried out by South Korean and United Nations forces at Hungnam Port in December 1950. Refugees whose land routes were blocked also evacuated south in space secured aboard military transport ships. It is remembered as an event that combined military withdrawal with civilian relief.

This article follows records from the National Archives of Korea and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, checked in November 2026.

## Background to the Gathering at Hungnam Port

As Chinese intervention changed the course of the war, Hungnam Port became an evacuation base. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs describes large-scale Chinese intervention beginning in late October 1950. Units under the U.S. X Corps that had fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir also withdrew to Hungnam.

The key constraint was the blocked land route south. The ministry's special exhibition identifies the Chinese blockade of Wonsan as the reason. Evacuation by sea and air therefore became alternatives. Refugees also followed the troops toward the port.

Refugees had reasons to flee beyond avoiding combat. Military historian Charles H. Briscoe explains the risks faced by residents who had cooperated with UN forces. Residents who had performed administrative work or labor feared the return of the previous authorities. This cannot be generalized as a motive shared by all refugees.

## Main Timeline of the Hungnam Evacuation

Following the reversal in the course of the war and the gathering at the port, the Hungnam Evacuation ended on December 24, 1950. However, sources give different starting dates for the operation. The following timeline shows the sequence of events alongside the descriptions in each record.

| Period | Event or description in the record | Source |
|---|---|---|
| From late October 1950 | Large-scale Chinese intervention reverses the course of the war | Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs special exhibition |
| Late November 1950 | Chinese attacks increase the need for UN forces to withdraw | Briscoe's study of the refugee evacuation |
| December 12 to 24, 1950 | Hungnam Evacuation period given by the National Archives of Korea | Detailed description of record CEQ0001648 |
| December 15 to 24, 1950 | Hungnam Evacuation period given by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs | Special exhibition, “The Miracle of Christmas” |
| December 24, 1950 | Final troops withdraw and port facilities are destroyed | U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, H-056-1 |

## The Turning Point That Expanded the Operation to Civilian Transport

The turning point was securing space for refugees aboard ships evacuating the military. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs describes the persuasion efforts of Kim Baek-il, commander of ROK I Corps, and others. Initially, the focus was on evacuating troops and supplies. According to this account, space for civilian transport was made available afterward.

Briscoe's study also discusses the roles of Hyun Bong-hak and Edward H. Forney. They supported the decision by U.S. X Corps commander Edward M. Almond to transport refugees. Getting people aboard required both command decisions and ship assignments. It is difficult to explain the entire process through a single remark by a particular person.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs states that some explosives and equipment were discarded to make room. This does not mean the operation abandoned all military supplies. The same exhibition separately presents figures for the evacuation of troops, vehicles, and supplies. (Verified figures: approximately 105,000 troops · approximately 17,500 vehicles · approximately 350,000 tons of supplies, December 1950 · Source: unarchives.mpva.go.kr · Checked 2026-11-10) [Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs special exhibition, “The Miracle of Christmas”](https://unarchives.mpva.go.kr/contents/xmas)

## Dockside Work That Put the Embarkation Decision into Practice

Transporting civilians required not just empty space but also the work of moving people to the ships. Briscoe's study describes dock operations and civilian assistance in detail. Refugees also helped with the evacuation by taking part in cargo handling.

- Other ships were moored alongside ships docked at the pier.
- Passageways were built between ships so cargo could also be loaded onto the outer ships.
- Refugees were organized into groups and moved to waiting areas and boarding points.
- Civilian assistance personnel distributed food and water.
- Refugee workers unloaded cargo from vehicles and helped load it onto ships.

In this process, refugees appear as more than people waiting to be rescued. Some also took part in port work. Looking at both the securing of ships and the labor on the ground reveals the conditions that made transport possible. [Briscoe, “The Refugee Evacuation from Hungnam”](https://arsof-history.org/articles/v7n1_hungnam_page_1.html)

## The Difference Between One Ship's Transport and the Overall Operation

SS Meredith Victory (the Meredith Victory) was one of the ships that took part in the overall operation. The U.S. Maritime Administration describes it as a cargo ship assigned to transport military supplies. Its captain at the time was Leonard LaRue.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs special exhibition states that this ship transported approximately 14,000 refugees. The U.S. Maritime Administration states that it carried more than 14,000 civilians. These figures describe the number transported by one ship.

| Category | Overall Hungnam Evacuation | Transport aboard SS Meredith Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | An evacuation operation involving multiple ships | Refugee transport by one participating ship |
| Those or items transported | Military personnel, supplies, and refugees | Refugees who boarded that ship |
| Interpreting the numbers | Overall totals must be checked against each source | An individual case described as involving approximately 14,000 people |
| Significance of the record | A combination of military withdrawal and civilian evacuation | A case in which a cargo ship was used to transport large numbers of refugees |

The U.S. Maritime Administration records that 5 babies were born during the voyage. It also states that no one died during the ship's voyage. These ship-specific outcomes should not be extended to the entire operation. [U.S. Maritime Administration, “SS MEREDITH VICTORY”](https://www.maritime.dot.gov/history/gallant-ship-award/ss-meredith-victory)

## Results and Remaining Limitations of the Evacuation

Militarily, the operation moved troops and equipment south. The National Archives of Korea's detailed description records the evacuation of 105,000 ground troops. It lists 17,500 vehicles. It states that military supplies amounted to 350,000 tons.

For civilians, a route to safety in the south was opened. However, not everyone who gathered at the port boarded a ship. The U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command's H-056-1 also describes refugees who were left behind. Both the transport achievements and the limits of the rescue's reach must be recorded.

The last troops withdrew on December 24, 1950. Port facilities and remaining supplies were then destroyed. The end of the military operation to leave the port was separate from the stabilization of refugees' lives. [U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, “H-056-1”](https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-056/h-056-1.html)

## Records and Interpretation

When citing records, dates and personnel figures should be attributed to their sources. Even official institutions give different figures. Averaging them or replacing them with a single definitive figure erases those differences.

### Dates and Numbers in the Records

The National Archives of Korea and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs give different operation periods and refugee totals. Even within the ministry's same exhibition, two figures appear together. Each must be read with its stated conditions intact.

| Source | Operation period | Number of refugees | Conditions to check alongside the figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Archives of Korea, detailed description of CEQ0001648 | December 12 to 24, 1950 | Over 100,000 | Figure given in the record's detailed description |
| Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs special exhibition | December 15 to 24, 1950 | Approximately 91,000 or 98,000 | The evacuation results section explicitly states that infants and others are excluded |
| U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, H-056-1 | States that the operation ended on December 24, 1950 | 91,000 | Described as refugees evacuated from Hungnam by ship |

The National Archives of Korea's CEQ0001648 is an audiovisual record created by Army Headquarters under the Ministry of National Defense. Its detail page lists the year of creation as 1950. However, the catalog description should not be treated as identical to the content of the original footage. The relevant figures in this article were checked against the description on the detail page. [National Archives of Korea, CEQ0001648 details](https://archives.go.kr/next/newsearch/showDetailPopup.do?rc_code=1310377&rc_rfile_no=200200097143&rc_ritem_no=000000000001&sitePage=1-2-1)

### Points Commonly Explained in Military History Studies

Military history accounts discuss both the preservation of military strength and civilian evacuation. The U.S. Army's “Dunkirk of Korea” distinguishes the achievement of carrying out an evacuation during a retreat. Briscoe's study examines civilian assistance and the role of transport organization in detail. Neither account treats victory in the war as a whole as equivalent to the achievements of the evacuation operation. [U.S. Army, “Dunkirk of Korea”](https://www.army.mil/article/14608/dunkirk_of_korea)

### Areas Where Differences Remain

The two Korean pages do not establish the exact reasons for the differences in starting dates and numbers. Whether preparatory stages were included requires further checking. The ports covered by the counts and whether infants were included must also be compared. The numerical differences alone provide insufficient grounds to call this a debate among historians.

The relative weight given to each person's contribution also varies with the purpose of the source. Commemorative exhibitions emphasize persuasion and the significance of rescue. Military history studies explain orders, ship assignments, and cargo-handling organization in greater detail. Unverified conversations about boarding should not be used to fill these gaps.

## Its Significance in Remembrance Today

The Hungnam Evacuation is a historical example of military operations and civilian evacuation being intertwined. Victory or defeat in battle alone cannot adequately explain the results of refugee transport. Conversely, a rescue story alone leaves out the military background to the evacuation.

The following distinctions are useful when studying the event today.

- Separate the scale of the overall operation from the number of people aboard individual ships.
- Consider command decisions alongside the port work that put them into practice.
- Record both the number of people evacuated and the existence of those who could not board.
- Distinguish the nature of original records, catalog descriptions, and later studies.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### When did the Hungnam Evacuation take place?

It took place in December 1950. The National Archives of Korea gives the dates as December 12 to 24. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs special exhibition gives December 15 to 24.

### Exactly how many refugees were evacuated?

It is difficult to establish one exact figure from the records checked. The National Archives of Korea states that there were over 100,000. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs gives approximately 91,000 or 98,000, excluding infants and others.

### Was refugee transport central to the operation from the beginning?

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs explains that the initial focus was on evacuating military personnel and supplies. Refugee transport later expanded through persuasion and the securing of space. Civilian evacuation was carried out alongside the military withdrawal.

### Did the Meredith Victory transport all the refugees?

SS Meredith Victory was one of the ships that took part in the overall operation. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs states that it transported approximately 14,000 people. Other ships also carried groups of refugees.

### Were the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Hungnam Evacuation the same event?

The two events were connected but were not the same. Units that fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir withdrew to Hungnam. The Hungnam Evacuation was the subsequent evacuation operation centered on the port.

### Did all the refugees who gathered at Hungnam Port board ships?

Not all refugees boarded. The U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command also describes refugees who were left behind. The total number transported should therefore not be read as the total number who gathered at the port.

### Why is it called the Miracle of Christmas?

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs uses this name in connection with the significance of the large-scale rescue of civilians. It is a commemorative expression. It is not a statistical term meaning that all refugees were rescued.

### Where can the original records and explanations be found?

Details for reference number CEQ0001648 are available from the National Archives of Korea. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' UN Veterans Digital Archive has a special exhibition. Catalog descriptions and later exhibition explanations should be read with the nature of each source in mind.

## FAQ

### When did the Hungnam Evacuation take place?
It took place in December 1950. The National Archives of Korea gives the dates as December 12 to 24. A special exhibition by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs gives the dates as December 15 to 24.

### How many refugees were evacuated during the Hungnam Evacuation?
The National Archives of Korea puts the figure at around 100,000. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs gives figures of approximately 91,000 or 98,000, excluding infants and others. These figures should be cited with their sources and counting criteria.

### Was transporting refugees the focus of the operation from the start?
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs explains that the initial focus was on withdrawing troops and supplies. Refugee transport was later expanded through persuasion and by securing space aboard ships.

### Did the Meredith Victory transport all the refugees?
SS Meredith Victory was one of several ships that participated. The approximately 14,000 people mentioned by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs refers to the number transported by this ship. This should be distinguished from the total number of people evacuated during the Hungnam Evacuation.

### What is the relationship between the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Hungnam Evacuation?
The units that fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir retreated to Hungnam. The Hungnam Evacuation was the subsequent withdrawal operation centered on the port. The two events are connected, but they are not the same event.

### Were all the refugees who gathered at Hungnam Port rescued?
Not all refugees boarded ships. Commentary by the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command also describes refugees who were left behind.

### Why is the Hungnam Evacuation called the Miracle of Christmas?
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs uses this name in connection with the significance of the large-scale rescue of civilians. It is a commemorative expression and does not mean that all refugees were rescued.

### Where can records of the Hungnam Evacuation be found?
Details of the record with reference number CEQ0001648 can be found at the National Archives of Korea. The special exhibition in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' UN Veterans Digital Archive can also be consulted. Descriptions in the archival catalog should be distinguished from later commentary.

## Sources

- [National Archives of Korea, details of audiovisual record CEQ0001648 produced by Army Headquarters](https://archives.go.kr/next/newsearch/showDetailPopup.do?rc_code=1310377&rc_rfile_no=200200097143&rc_ritem_no=000000000001&sitePage=1-2-1)
- [Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs UN Veterans Digital Archive, special exhibition "The Miracle of Christmas"](https://unarchives.mpva.go.kr/contents/xmas)
- [Charles H. Briscoe, The Refugee Evacuation from Hungnam, Veritas Vol. 7, No. 1, 2011](https://arsof-history.org/articles/v7n1_hungnam_page_1.html)
- [U.S. Maritime Administration, SS MEREDITH VICTORY](https://www.maritime.dot.gov/history/gallant-ship-award/ss-meredith-victory)
- [U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, H-056-1: Korea, November-December 1950](https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-056/h-056-1.html)
- [U.S. Army, Dunkirk of Korea](https://www.army.mil/article/14608/dunkirk_of_korea)

## Images

![Workers unload trucks as refugees carrying bundles board transport ships at snow-covered Hungnam port.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NDA5OTcsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--ff2aea8b9273c1601fec252c2da2121015336b74/ai-30425106.webp)
![A cargo ship crowded with refugees leaves snowy Hungnam harbor, with other transports still at the quays.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NDEwMDMsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--391ca1aab1890d752d79706b177b388e6b8f549f/ai-139af882.webp)