The Mother of Sergeant Hansang-guk from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong Passes Away... Reunited with Son After 20 Years

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Moon Hwa-soon, the mother of the late Sergeant Han Sang-guk, who defended the West Sea during the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, has passed away.

According to the Navy on the 6th, Chief of Naval Operations Jong-ho Lee sent a wreath to Moon's funeral home set up in Han's hometown of Boryeong, Chungnam, and soldiers from the Navy's 2nd Fleet in Pyeongtaek, where Han served, as well as the Navy Headquarters, visited to pay their respects.

Moon's son, Sergeant Han, was serving as the helmsman of the Navy's Chamsuri-class patrol boat No. 357 on June 29, 2002, during the height of the Korea-Japan World Cup, when he was subjected to a preemptive surprise attack by two North Korean patrol boats. As a result, six soldiers died, including Sergeant Han, Commander Major Yoon Young-ha, gunner Sergeant Jo Cheon-hyeong, Sergeant Hwang Do-hyun, Sergeant Seo Hu-won, and medic Private Park Dong-hyuk, who was severely injured and later died during treatment.

It is said that Sergeant Han was found still holding onto the helm. Currently, six guided missile fast attack crafts named after the six heroes of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong are deployed in the West Sea to protect the waters. In June 2015, Moon visited the Han Sang-guk ship named after her son and toured the helm room, the same place her son had risked his life to defend. At that time, Moon said, "My son loved the sea and ships very much. He was so happy to become a helmsman," and encouraged the crew of the Han Sang-guk ship, saying, "I am still holding back tears. May this never happen again."

The military has changed the name of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong event from a simple commemorative ceremony to a "victory commemoration ceremony" starting this year, the 20th anniversary, officially recognizing the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong as a history of victory.

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