A Korean War Veteran Who Left Only His Fingernails Returns to His Daughter After 71 Years

"Father Who Selflessly Sacrificed Without Hesitation in Difficult Times"
National Remains Excavation Project Confirms Identities of 199 War Dead

Corporal Song Byung-seon's Remains Excavation Work
[Photo by Ministry of National Defense]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The remains of the late Corporal Song Byeong-seon, who died fighting the enemy during the Korean War, have returned to his daughter after 71 years.

The Ministry of National Defense's Remains Excavation and Identification Team (hereafter the National Team) announced on the 8th that the identity of the remains excavated in July 2020 in Sin-ri, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, was confirmed to be Corporal Song.

The deceased was born as the eldest son among one son and one daughter in Ongjin-gun, Incheon, and lost his father when he was fifteen. From a young age, Corporal Song took on the role of the de facto head of the household, responsible for his mother and younger sister, and farmed to support the family’s livelihood.

He met his partner when he turned twenty and had two daughters. On December 8, 1950, shortly after his second child passed her first birthday, he enlisted. Serving in the 3rd Regiment of the 7th Division of the Republic of Korea Army, he participated in the Korean War and was killed in action in early March the following year during the 'Battle near Hajinburi' in the Pyeongchang-gun area.

At that time, the South Korean army suffered heavy losses around Wonju due to the North Korean offensive and planned an annihilation operation to encircle and destroy the enemy. Accordingly, the 3rd Regiment of the 7th Division, to which the deceased belonged, launched a main attack through Jamdusan and Baekjeoksan in Pyeongchang toward Hajinburi. Despite fierce enemy resistance, the 3rd Regiment, supported by firepower, repelled the enemy and succeeded in recapturing Soksari and Hajinburi in Pyeongchang-gun, the operation’s objectives. However, the deceased lost his life in this battle, and only his fingernails and toenails remained and were repatriated to his family.

The remains of Sergeant Song Byung-seon [Photo by Ministry of National Defense]

The remains of the deceased were first identified as part of the left arm bone during the excavation work in 2020, more than half a century later. In an additional search involving experts, seven remains including ribs, combat boots, and 11 personal items such as buttons with eagle emblems were excavated together. Due to the low preservation rate of the remains, it was difficult to find clues to identify the individual, but DNA testing confirmed a father-daughter relationship with the deceased’s eldest daughter, Song Hyo-sook, allowing Corporal Song to return to his family after 71 years.

Eldest daughter Song said, "At the time of the war, only my father’s fingernails and toenails were returned, so I thought I should keep looking, but I prayed a lot, fearing we might never find him." She added, "I am truly grateful that the nation and the Ministry of National Defense found my father."

She also recalled her father, saying, "He rescued children from a neighbor’s house on fire and put out the fire. He was someone who selflessly devoted himself whenever there was trouble in the neighborhood without regard for his own safety."

The identity confirmation notification ceremony, called the 'Return of the National Hero Ceremony,' is scheduled to be held on the 9th at the family’s home in Incheon. The Hwarang Military Merit Medal, which was decided to be awarded in 1954 but has not yet been delivered, will be presented to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, the excavation project for the remains of those who died in the Korean War began in April 2000, and the identities of 199 fallen soldiers have been confirmed so far. The National Team emphasized the need for public participation in identifying remains and asked people to contact them by phone or visit nearby public health centers, veterans hospitals, or military hospitals. If individuals wish to provide DNA samples but have difficulty visiting due to mobility issues or livelihood reasons, the National Team can visit them directly.

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