“I'll Come Back Alive, So Marry Me” 21-Year-Old Young Man Returns as Skeleton After 73 Years Leaving Fianc?e Behind

Ministry of National Defense Confirms Remains of Late Sergeant Hwang Byung-jun

Korean War Fallen Hero Returns to Family

Killed in 1950 Battle in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk

A 21-year-old young man who left home to protect his country returned to his family after 73 years. He left his fianc?e’s hand, saying, “I will definitely come back alive, marry me,” but he sought forgiveness for breaking these two promises in the form of a ‘white bone.’

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 25th that the identity of a South Korean soldier who died in the Korean War was confirmed after 73 years, and he returned to his family.

The Ministry of National Defense’s Remains Recovery and Identification Team (Director Lee Geun-won) confirmed that the remains of a Korean War soldier excavated in 2010 and 2017 around Ugok-ri, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, belonged to the late Sergeant Hwang Byeong-jun of the Republic of Korea Army’s 3rd Division.

The excavation site of the late Sergeant Hwang Byung-jun's remains. [Image source=Ministry of National Defense]

This identification was made through mobile inquiries to find the bereaved families based on the soldiers’ military records.

The mobile inquiry officer of the Remains Recovery Team confirmed the deceased’s registered domicile as Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, from his military records, then compared it with the family register and visited Mr. Hwang Tae-gi (72), presumed to be the deceased’s nephew, in October 2022 to collect genetic samples. The collected remains and the family’s genetic samples were analyzed precisely to confirm the family relationship. This was the 215th case of identification since the start of the remains excavation.

The remains of the deceased were recovered by junior soldiers who persistently traced the traces of sacrifice and dedication.

In March 2010, about 100 soldiers from the Remains Recovery Team and the 1st Marine Division lined up horizontally in an area presumed to be individual foxholes from the Korean War and excavated along a slope, recovering a skull and upper arm bones.

Later, in March 2017, a lower jawbone was recovered about 10 meters away from the first excavation site.

The late Sergeant Hwang Byeong-jun, belonging to the Republic of Korea Army’s 3rd Division, is presumed to have participated in the Battle of Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, from July 19 to August 17, 1950, and died in action.

He was born in September 1929 in Sinpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, as the second of four sons and one daughter. It is known that since his eldest brother was forcibly conscripted during the Japanese colonial period, he helped his parents with farming from a young age to support the family.

According to the bereaved family, before enlisting, he got engaged and promised his fianc?e, “I will definitely come back alive, so let’s get married, have children, and live well,” but that became an eternal farewell.

National Defense Unit soldiers are excavating the remains of fallen soldiers. [Image source=Ministry of National Defense]

He enlisted in May 1950 in the 23rd Regiment of the 3rd Division stationed in Busan. When the war broke out, he moved to Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, participated in the ‘Uljin-Yeonghae Battle’ around July 1950, carried out operations, and fought in the ‘Yeongdeok Battle’ from July 19 to August 17, 1950, where he died in action on August 14 at the age of 21.

The Battle of Yeongdeok was a battle in the Yeongdeok area on the East Coast, where the Republic of Korea Army’s 3rd Division blocked the North Korean 5th Division’s advance toward Busan, laying the groundwork for a counteroffensive.

The ‘Return of the National Defense Hero Ceremony’ was held on the 24th at the bereaved family’s home in Dong-gu, Daegu.

The Return of the National Defense Hero Ceremony is an event to find soldiers who died in the Korean War and were buried in the mountains and fields at the time, and bring them back to their families.

The ceremony included explaining the deceased’s participation in the war and the progress of the remains excavation to the family representative, delivering a certificate of identification, a ‘Spirit of National Defense’ box containing a plaque honoring the national defense hero, personal effects, and offering condolences.

Mr. Hwang Tae-gi (in his 70s), the deceased’s nephew, said, “Although it took over 70 years, I am relieved to have found my uncle’s remains. I am grateful to the country for continuing to find and honor the heroes who sacrificed for the nation, and I hope more remains can return to their families.”

On the 24th, a Homecoming Ceremony for the National Defense Hero is being held at the family home of the late Sergeant Hwang Byung-jun in Daegu. [Image source=Ministry of National Defense]

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