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March 24, 1951. General Douglas MacArthur, the head of the UN forces, met with Baek Seon-yeop, the commander of the Republic of Korea’s 1st Division, whose headquarters was located at an elementary school on Manrijae Pass in Seoul during that time. This occurred around the time when UN troops had taken back Seoul and were starting their northward movement. General MacArthur, who was 71 years old, stayed seated in his jeep with a blanket covering his legs. While discussing the battle situation with Baek, he suddenly asked, “Are the food supply problems for your troops being addressed?”

Baek Seon-yeop reportedly responded without delay, “We need sweet foods to fill our stomachs.” He was requesting high-calorie items such as sugar and sweets. At this, General MacArthur looked toward Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway, who was then leading the US 8th Army, and Colonel William Marget, head of the Economic and Scientific Section at the UN Command headquarters in Tokyo, who were sitting in the back. Colonel Marget was said to have fidgeted and appeared uncertain, as if conveying, “I understand what you mean.”

Following General MacArthur’s departure, a U.S. military advisor, who had observed the circumstances, strongly objected to General Baek. “Issues regarding food supplies are the responsibility of the ROK Army to handle. Why did you bring this up with the commander?” Even the typically composed Division Commander Baek Seon-yeop became visibly angry and retorted, “The commander asked a question. Are you suggesting I should lie?”

Shortly after MacArthur’s visit, a large quantity of sugary items, such as sweets and dried squid, was brought to the 1st Division. It was sent by the UN Command headquarters in Tokyo, guided by Colonel Marget.

Yoo Kwang-jong, the head of the General Baek Seon-yeop Memorial Foundation, examines this dynamic wartime moment from a leadership standpoint in the series *Baek Seon-yeop’s Battlefield Leadership*. While serving as a journalist in 2019, Yoo interviewed General Baek over the course of a year, resulting in the series *Stories to Remember: The Korean War and South Korea as I Experienced Them*, and has written several related books, including *Speaking of Baek Seon-yeop*.

Discover the leadership and insight that emerged during the intense conditions of war through the *Baek Seon-yeop’s Battlefield Leadership* series. Become a Chosun Member to access the complete narrative.

Chosun Membership content is accessible exclusively to subscribers. The article *Caught Off Guard by the ‘Night Army’ and Retreating… Retreat Was Not Cowardice* can be read for free as a sample from the *Baek Seon-yeop’s Battlefield Leadership* series authored by Director Yoo Kwang-jong.