General Hong Beom-do Returns to Homeland After 78 Years... Rests at Daejeon National Cemetery

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The remains of General Hong Beom-do, repatriated from Kazakhstan, were interred on the morning of the 18th at the Independence Patriots' 3rd Cemetery in Daejeon National Cemetery.

The burial ceremony was attended by President Moon Jae-in and the First Lady, the special envoy delegation who visited Kazakhstan for the repatriation of General Hong's remains, leaders of ruling and opposition parties, the Minister of National Defense, chiefs of staff of each military branch, the Marine Corps commander, Captain Hong Beom-do, the President of the Liberation Association, the Yeocheon Hong Beom-do General Memorial Project Association, representatives of the Namyang Hong clan, the President of the Korean-Kazakh Association, and members of the Korean diaspora.

The remains of General Hong were moved to the Independence Patriots' 3rd Cemetery by the Ministry of National Defense honor guard, led by the representative of the Namyang Hong clan who enshrined his portrait. The Ministry of National Defense military band welcomed the remains by playing the "Independence Army Song," which was a favorite among independence fighters during the Japanese colonial period who longed for the liberation of their homeland, marking the start of the ceremony.

After the memorial performance concluded, the remains were moved to the grave site, where the Taegeukgi flag covering the coffin was folded by the Ministry of National Defense honor guard.

After the burial, President Moon and the First Lady completed the ceremony by mixing soil from the local general's graveyard in Kazakhstan, received from President Tokayev of Kazakhstan at the previous day's medal conferment ceremony for General Hong, with soil from the Republic of Korea.

The memorial wreaths for the flower offering on this day were made using carnations, the memorial flower of Kazakhstan, together with chrysanthemums, the symbol of remembrance in Korea, adding significance to General Hong, who had become the spiritual root of the Korean diaspora community in Kazakhstan.

The Blue House stated, "Both countries will actively support and cooperate to ensure the continuous maintenance of General Hong's grave site remaining in Kazakhstan, doing their utmost to carry on the spiritual legacy of the Korean diaspora community."

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