514 Remains of 6·25 War Fallen Soldiers Returned to the Homeland

From April, 100,000 personnel deployed over 8 months, excavations in 43 combat zones

National Seoul Memorial Cemetery, Korean War Fallen Soldiers' Burial Site, Dongjak-gu, Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] On the 18th, the government announced that a joint enshrinement ceremony for 514 remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War was held at the National Seoul National Cemetery, attended by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun.

The ceremony was attended by about 10 people including Prime Minister Chung, the Minister of National Defense, and the Commissioner of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. It proceeded in the order of a report on the progress of remains excavation, religious rites, flower offering and incense burning, and the escorting of the remains.

The 514 remains enshrined this time were excavated from 43 battle sites of the Korean War in Gangwon-do Cheorwon and Inje, Gyeonggi-do Paju and Yeoncheon, among others, from April to the end of November by the Ministry of National Defense's Remains Excavation and Identification Team and 31 brigade-level units of the Army and Marine Corps.

In particular, 127 remains excavated from the area around Hwasalmari Hill were recovered from the South Korean side from April 20 to November 20 in connection with the South-North joint remains excavation project agreed upon in the 'September 19 Military Agreement' to be conducted in the Hwasalmari Hill area.

After the joint enshrinement ceremony on this day, the remains of the 514 fallen soldiers will be enshrined at the National Remains Storage Facility within the Ministry of National Defense's Remains Excavation and Identification Team.

The Korean War remains excavation project began in April 2000 as part of the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Korean War, and including the 514 remains recovered this year, a total of 12,592 remains of fallen soldiers have been excavated to date.

A government official stated, "To improve the excavation and identification rate of Korean War remains, we will establish a close cooperative system among related ministries and strengthen public campaigns and other promotions. We will continue to fulfill the national infinite responsibility mission to bring every last Korean War fallen soldier who devoted themselves to the country back to their homeland and families."

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