The Monument to the Spirits of the Dead at Danggogae, the Largest Civilian Massacre Site in Goheung

Memorial Ceremony Held After 70 Years at the Foot of Unamsan Mountain

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] A memorial stone for the restless spirits was erected and a memorial ceremony held 70 years later at the site where 43 members of the Bodo League, recorded as the largest civilian massacre in the Goheung area, were executed by firing squad.

The National Bereaved Families Association of Civilian Victims of the Korean War (Standing Representative Chairman Yoon Ho-sang) and the Yeosun Uprising Goheung Bereaved Families Association (President Lee Baek-in) jointly announced on the 4th that on the 2nd, they held a memorial stone erection and memorial ceremony at Dangogae in Cheonhak-ri, Jeomam-myeon, Goheung-gun.

The event was attended by about 10 bereaved family members of the victims massacred here, as well as officials from the National Bereaved Families Association, and representatives from nearby Boseong and Suncheon Bereaved Families Associations, and the Yeosun 10.19 National Solidarity.

On that day, the bereaved families erected the memorial stone themselves and, following traditional rites, comforted the restless spirits who were unjustly massacred 70 years ago through a religious ceremony conducted by Kim Hyun-myung, a Won-Buddhism minister of the Nokdong Church.

Yoon Ho-sang, Standing Representative Chairman of the National Bereaved Families Association, said, “The purpose is to raise local interest and public opinion through the erection of the memorial stone and to lead to the construction of a memorial tower,” adding, “It is regrettable that numerous remains are still scattered at massacre sites across the country.”

Mr. Park, a bereaved family member who came from Hwasun, said, “I lost my father at a young age and was left alone, so I am truly grateful that the memorial stone was erected and comfort was given,” wiping away tears.

Mr. Kim from a nearby village, who witnessed the massacre site as a teenager, recalled, “The bereaved families who rushed upon hearing the news retrieved the bodies, and the remaining bodies were left at the site, so local youths were mobilized to perform temporary burials there.”

On June 25, 1950, the Korean War began, and on July 15, when the North Korean 3rd Division bypassed Gongju, crossed the Geum River, and advanced into Honam, the Goheung Police Station urgently summoned local Bodo League members.

Initially, about 100 people were summoned, but many escaped through various petitions such as handing over land documents, and 43 people including Kim Hong-jun were loaded onto military trucks at dawn on July 20 after the rain stopped and executed by firing squad at Dangogae.

On the same day, six detainees held at the Gwaryeok Police Station were massacred at Dojijeonggol in Sinan-ri, Jeomam-myeon, and Bodo League members from the northern Goheung areas of Daeseo-myeon, Donggang-myeon, and Namyang-myeon were massacred at Seokgeorijae in Chudong-ri, Beolgyo-eup, under the jurisdiction of Beolgyo Police Station. It is known that about 50 people were killed, including those from Beolgyo, Joseong, Nagan, Songgwang, and Oeseo.

The National Bereaved Families Association of Civilian Victims of the Korean War has continued memorial projects to comfort the restless spirits of victims by visiting civilian massacre sites nationwide, including erecting memorial stones at Aegiseom in Yeosu and by the riverside next to Jangdaedari in Suncheon in 2019, supported by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

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