33-Year-Old 6.25 War Hero Enlists and Returns Home

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A hero of the Korean War who enlisted at the late age of 33 has returned. The protagonist is the late Corporal Min Young-seung (current rank: Sergeant).

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 5th, Corporal Min's remains were excavated on June 25, 2018. This is the 152nd identification since the first excavation began in April 2000.

Born in June 1918 in Gwansan-dong, Goyang-si, as the second son among four sons and one daughter, Corporal Min worked as a chef at a hotel in Jongno, Seoul until the outbreak of the Korean War. He married at the age of 25 and had one son and one daughter.

In January 1951, at the late age of 33, he enlisted and participated in the Korean War as a member of the Republic of Korea Army's 8th Division. He died in action on August 21, 1951, during the Battle of Nojeonpyeong near Seohwa-ri, Inje, Gangwon Province.

The United Nations Command and Communist forces (North Korean and Chinese troops) fought fiercely in the Nojeonpyeong area from August 9 to September 18, 1951, to gain an advantage in the armistice talks. It was a typical high-ground battle to capture the hills adjacent to Chukseon in Seohwa-ri, Inje, Gangwon Province. The 8th Division deployed the 16th and 10th Regiments to capture hills 445 to 1010. However, lacking terrain favorable for defense, the battle for the hills continued with back-and-forth fighting. Corporal Min died during this process. Only two bone fragments, including parts of the shin and arm, were discovered 67 years later.

His wife, Kim Min-soon, endured difficult conditions to maintain their livelihood and waited her entire life for her husband's return. Unfortunately, she passed away last December, just nine months before the identification was confirmed.

Their son, Mr. Min, said, "Without my father and siblings, I tried hard to live with my mother in difficult circumstances," and added with teary eyes, "It is truly regrettable that my mother passed away last year and could not see my father return."

The Ministry of National Defense's Remains Excavation and Identification Team plans to hold a return ceremony and burial at the National Cemetery in consultation with the bereaved family.

The Ministry emphasized, "We will do our best to bring every last Korean War fallen soldier back to their families by exploring various ways to expand DNA sample collection from bereaved families for identification."

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