Father Returning After Over 70 Years

Photo from the wedding of the late Private Han Hyup

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A father who participated in the Korean War (6.25 War) leaving behind his 3-year-old son has returned to his family after 70 years. The protagonist is the late Private Myeong Han-hyeop, a war casualty of the 6.25 War.

Private Myeong was born in August 1925 as the eldest son among six brothers and two sisters in the Ihol-dong area of Sacheon-si, Gyeongnam Province. From a young age, he was known for his kind nature and filial piety, and his family relied on him. He married Lee Bun-ak and started a family, having an only son, Gap-won (72). In February 1951, at the age of 26, he enlisted at the Busan Army Training Center, leaving behind his 3-year-old son. He is presumed to have served in the Republic of Korea Army’s 6th Division and participated in the Gapyeong-Hwacheon offensive (May 22?30, 1951) during the Korean War, where he was presumed killed in action. The Gapyeong-Hwacheon offensive was a battle in which the 6th Division of the ROK Army repelled attacks from the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army’s 187th, 188th, and 189th Divisions and advanced to Hwacheon.

Private Myeong, who died in this battle, had only a few remains such as parts of his femur and upper arm excavated 66 years later, but no personal effects that could confirm his identity were found. His wife waited for him to return all her life but passed away in 1993.

His son, Gap-won, never gave up on finding his father’s remains. In 2010, he agreed to provide a DNA sample to help locate his father’s remains. After 10 years, good news arrived. On May 2, 2017, the Ministry of National Defense’s Remains Excavation and Identification Team notified that the identity of a 6.25 War casualty’s remains excavated in the Ohang-ri area of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, had been confirmed. Private Myeong’s identification was the 153rd since the first excavation of war casualties’ remains began in April 2000.

Gap-won said, "I thought my father would never come back, so I had given up, but I am really happy and still in disbelief that he was found. I want to meet my father as soon as possible."

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