Seoul in the Seventies

Wendy Godwin was one of the first people to write to me after reading my book MEETING MR KIM. It brought back memories of the years she lived there with her husband and two small children in the 70s, when her husband was involved in setting up a bank there. She said 'I have never found another place like it' - so true.
Last week she sent me a copy of some old Super 8 film they made when they were there, which she's had converted onto DVD. So interesting to see it. Seoul already had plenty of tall buildings against that stunning backdrop of craggy hills, but the streets were so empty of traffic -- a couple of boxy looking little cars, and lots of people wandering around (in their high-waisted flares) where now they would be mowed down by speeding vehicles... Poignant to watch the little kids clambering over temple steps and in forest-covered mountains. It struck me what a great place Korea is to travel with young children.
Wendy says: 'There were no private cars for the general public at all - just bright blue taxis "ponies" (that was the make of car) and black chauffeur driven government and business cars.' She adds, 'Did you  notice my daughter in her headscarf - she became very distressed with the number of people that stroked her blonde hair wherever we went and so we tried to cover it up!'
Wendy's husband Peter set up the first Merchant Bank in Korea in the late Seventies. He visited over 80 times and was recognised by the Korean government for his services to finance; he also received the CBE from the Queen in 1992. He loved Korea, says Wendy.