April's 6.25 War Hero: Marine Major Seong Gwan-sik

Major Sung Kwan-sik, Marine Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Major Seong Gwan-sik of the Marine Corps was selected as the April Hero of the Korean War, and the independence activist couple Oh Gwang-seon and Jeong Hyeon-suk were chosen as the April Independence Activists.

On the 31st, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that Major Seong Gwan-sik (1928.5?1958.9) of the Marine Corps, who made distinguished achievements securing key strategic points around the Imjin River during the Korean War, was selected as the "April Hero of the Korean War."

Born in 1928 in Gwangju, Major Seong graduated from Suwon Agricultural College in March 1951 and was commissioned as a Marine Corps second lieutenant on July 1, 1952, during the height of the Korean War. At a time when the frontline between enemy and friendly forces was stalemated and fierce battles for hills and trenches were ongoing, he served as the platoon leader of the 2nd Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, confronting Chinese forces in the Jangdan area of the western front.

In September 1952, when the Chinese army launched a large-scale human wave attack on the 36th Forward Outpost around the Jangdan Sacheon River, Major Seong’s platoon blocked the enemy’s reinforcements with artillery support from the regiment. He then fiercely defended the position through intense grenade and close combat battles against the enemy who had entered the communication trenches. Even when the trench collapsed due to enemy shelling, burying five of his men, he desperately found the radio and resumed communication, enabling friendly artillery to destroy the encircling enemy forces. By successfully defending the position, he made a significant contribution to securing a key stronghold on the main resistance line around the Imjin River.

After the armistice, he devoted himself to training new recruits at the Marine Corps Training Unit and played a leading role in establishing the Marine Corps Aviation Unit in 1958. He died in an accident during flight training in September 1958 at the age of 31. The government posthumously promoted him one rank and awarded him the Eulji Military Merit Medal in honor of his service.

The "April Independence Activists" were selected as the independence activist couple Oh Gwang-seon and Jeong Hyeon-suk. Born in 1896 in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Oh Gwang-seon graduated from Samak School in 1913 and married Jeong Hyeon-suk (also known as Jeong Jeong-san). In 1914, he enrolled at the Cheongnyeon Academy in Sangdong, Jongno, Seoul, but due to continuous oppression by the Japanese Governor-General and financial difficulties, the academy closed in 1915, prompting him to move to China to continue the independence movement.

He graduated from the Shinheung Military Academy in 1918 and served as a military instructor and physical education teacher at Dongheung School before becoming an instructor at Shinheung Military Academy, dedicating himself to training independence fighters. In December 1920, he was appointed company commander of the Korean Independence Army Corps, and in July 1930, he served as a company commander of the Korean Independence Party’s volunteer army formed by Lee Cheong-cheon and Hong Jin in Weihai County, China.

In February 1934, he served as an instructor at the Luoyang branch of the Chinese Army Officer School, focusing on training officers. Later, under the orders of Kim Gu, he was dispatched to Beijing in 1936 to conduct intelligence activities but was arrested by the Japanese police. He served two years in prison at Sinuiju Prison. Returning to Korea in November 1945, he participated in the Korean Army Preparation Committee, the Liberation Youth Association, and the Daedong Youth Corps. In December 1948, he entered the 8th class of the Military Academy and was commissioned as an army colonel the following year, serving as commander of the Jeonju District Defense Command before retiring as a brigadier general.

His wife, Jeong Hyeon-suk, followed her husband into exile in Manchuria in 1919, cultivating fields and supporting the independence fighters with wages earned from working for others. Known as the "Mother of Manchuria," she was active in the Korean Revolutionary Women’s League in 1941. In 1944, she joined the Korean Independence Party and participated in the provisional government activities until liberation. The government posthumously awarded Oh Gwang-seon the Order of Independence in 1962 and Jeong Hyeon-suk the Order of Patriotism in 1995.

Meanwhile, their two daughters, Oh Hee-young and Hee-ok, also joined the Korean Liberation Front Youth Corps organized in February 1939 and participated in propaganda activities. They enlisted in the Liberation Army, undertaking recruitment operations, and even their son-in-law (Oh Hee-young’s husband, Shin Song-sik) devoted himself to the independence movement.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.