‘Some/One’ by Do Ho Suh: Reflecting on the Violent History and Reality that has Shaped South Korea’s Military

In 2001, renowned South Korean artist Do Ho Suh created Some/One a 9-foot tall metal sculpture shaped into ancient South Korean military armour. Assembled out of dog tags used by the South Korean military today, the armour resembles those used during the ancient Goguryeo Dynasty over 15 centuries ago. Unlike most historical armour constructed out of metal plates, the Goguryeo Dynasty armours were made by weaving individual dog tag sized iron pieces with string. This construction meant that Goguryeo warriors had more freedom of mobility compared to their enemies, giving them victory after victory, including over the formidable Chinese soldiers of the Shu Dynasty.

In an interview with Art21, Do Ho Suh outlined that the piece was first made to reflect on his troubling experiences during his time in South Korea’s mandatory military service. Ho Suh recalled that he was pushed to his physical and psychological limit, slowly losing his sense of humanity and becoming nothing more than an effective killing machine.

Ho Suh's experiences have also been depicted in the hit Netflix Korea series D.P., otherwise known as Deserter Pursuit. The TV show follows the plights of two military officers in the Deserter Pursuit unit, whose task is to track down deserting officers, mostly young men deflecting from their mandatory military service time. The show’s narrative exposes the harsh realities that Korean military officers are subjected to today, even if they are still in training. These abuses include everything from physical to mental and even sexual, which leads desperate candidates to desert even when they know they face imprisonment and harsh fines as a consequence.

By using dog tags to create historical South Korean armour, Ho Suh is asking people to trace the history of South Korea’s military—a violent past which has created a cycle of violence that continues to the present day. Meanwhile, the piece’s title, Some/One, which separates ‘one’ from ‘someone,’ asks audiences to humanize individuals forcefully conscripted in the South Korean military. The audience is prompted to consider how the unified identity of any militia is made of real people with families and loved ones, just like them. This sentiment is further signified by the individual dog tags that make up the single armour, each dog tag signifies individual men and women who have been forced into a violent military system in the name of a country and its violent history. Hence, Some/One by Do Ho Suh is an anti-war piece which recognizes that violence only begets further violence. At the same time, the piece also calls for military reform in South Korea for the physical and mental health welfare of its soldiers. This is why Some/One by Do Ho Suh is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and Good Health And Well-Being.

Do Ho Suh's Some/One is a powerful commentary on the cycle of violence that has created enduring challenges within South Korea’s military. By constructing a towering 9-foot historical armour out of modern-day military dog tags, Ho Suh draws parallels between the ancient Goguryeo warriors and South Korea’s contemporary soldiers, shedding light on the continued cycle of violence and dehumanization within its military service. Through Some/One, Ho Suh humanizes the soldiers behind the dog tags, reminding viewers of their individuality within a larger, often oppressive, military structure. 

Find out more about Some/One and other pieces by Do Ho Suh on his Art21 page or Instagram @dohosuhstudio.