This is outstanding recognition and input on this sword! you guys are great!
For me this is educational as I am not well versed in swords of these regions, so it is great to have these details.
What is most interesting is the scenario proposed by Ian, which perfectly illustrates how the indigenous location of a weapon form need not confine it to those specific regions. By definition it remains in form of course, that of its origin, but it can be qualified further, as in this case, by the regions in which it found further use.
When we are lucky enough to have a sound provenance such as this, with its being collected in Korea during that war (1950-53), it becomes historically far more dynamic.
I recall many years ago wanting to find examples of Korean swords. I did not realize what a perplexing task this would be. For one thing, there was virtually zero literature on the topic, and what information I acquired, mostly anecdotal, there did not seem to be any specific indigenous forms. Most examples seemed like this, rather forms from other origins.
Finally I discovered that Korean weapons were rare as the Japanese confiscated most and destroyed them wantonly.
Eventually I did find a KOREAN sword!!
years ago.
It resembled a Japanese katana, but with subtle nuances different.
In years after that, there was a Japanese gentleman (one of a number) who traveled through the US at advertised meeting locations to have locals bring in Japanese swords for examination and appraisal. They were buying back the souvenir swords of WWII.
I took my photos of the Korean sword hoping for info. The man (I spoke through an interpreter) looked at the photos, and with disdain handed them back with an almost disgusted look. He uttered something which sounded unpleasant to the interpreter (the man looked away from me)...who in carefully guaged politeness said, 'he has no idea what this is'.
From that moment I could see the rancor that remained from those earlier years, and underlined what I was told about the destruction of Korean arms.