70th Anniversary Event of the 6.25 War... President Moon's First Attendance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The government held the 70th anniversary event of the Korean War at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, at 8:20 p.m. on the 25th.

Attended by President Moon Jae-in, the event was held under the theme "Salute to the Heroes," honoring veterans and their families, as well as about 300 key government officials who participated in the Korean War. This was President Moon's first time attending the Korean War commemorative ceremony, reflecting his intention to express respect and gratitude to the veterans who dedicated themselves to protecting the nation and to provide them with the highest honors.

Notably, 147 remains of South Korean soldiers who died in the war, returning to their homeland after 70 years through the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), were present. These 147 remains were excavated in North Korean territory in the 1990s, transferred to the United States, and later identified as South Korean soldiers through joint identification processes between South Korea and the U.S. Among them, seven were confirmed as soldiers who died in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. They include Private Kim Jeong-yong, Staff Sergeant Oh Dae-young, Sergeant Ha Jin-ho, and Privates Kim Dong-seong, Choi Jae-ik, Park Jin-sil, and Jeong Jae-sul. The Battle of Chosin Reservoir took place from November 26 to December 11, 1950, in the Jangjin area of South Hamgyong Province, where 30,000 UN troops fought against 120,000 Chinese troops in severe cold, resulting in approximately 17,000 UN casualties and 48,000 Chinese casualties.

On the 21st, the government dispatched a repatriation remains reception team led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Park Jae-min to Hawaii, USA. The remains were placed in the passenger seats of the latest aerial refueling aircraft, the Cygnus, and arrived on the afternoon of the 24th. Alongside the 147 remains, six U.S. military remains excavated and identified domestically were also present. President Moon personally welcomed these remains and planned to enter the venue together with the families of the identified fallen soldiers among the 147 remains.

While the seven identified South Korean soldier remains and six U.S. military remains are being transported, singer Yoon Do-hyun will perform "Song of the Old Soldier." This song, written and composed by Kim Min-ki in 1976, expresses the sorrows, hardships, and simple patriotism of a soldier who devoted his life to the blue military uniform.

President Moon, along with Park Sam-duk, Commissioner of the National Veterans Affairs, and Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, will award the Korean War Service Medal to 13 identified South Korean and U.S. fallen soldiers and the Military Merit Medal to surviving veterans' families and bereaved families of those who distinguished themselves during the Korean War. The event will also feature video messages of friendship and peace from heads of state of countries that participated in the Korean War, including U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceremony will conclude with the remains of 147 South Korean soldiers and six U.S. soldiers being transported in a funeral procession vehicle.

Meanwhile, considering the health of elderly attendees due to the heatwave, the government decided to hold the Korean War commemorative event after sunset for the first time.

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