18-Year-Old Fallen 6·25 War Veteran... Returning Home After 73 Years

Delivery of the Remains of the Late Private Kim Su-deok to His Bereaved Family

The remains of Private Kim Su-deok, a Korean War veteran who died in battle at the young age of 18, have returned to his family after 73 years.

On the 6th, the Ministry of National Defense's Remains Recovery and Identification Team held a 'National Hero Homecoming Ceremony' at the family home of the deceased in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, and presented the family with a notification of identification and personal effects of Private Kim.

Born in August 1932 as the fourth of nine children in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, Private Kim volunteered for enlistment at the Daegu 1st Training Center in September 1950 after the outbreak of the Korean War. Assigned to the 8th Division of the Republic of Korea Army, he participated in several battles and was killed in action at the age of 18 during the 'Hoengseong Battle' in February of the following year while fighting against Chinese forces. The remains of the deceased, buried for over half a century around Deokgal Hill in Seowon-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province, were excavated by the Remains Recovery and Identification Team in May 2018.

Although the initial DNA analysis conducted immediately after excavation, based on a genetic sample from his younger brother Kim Jong-deok, did not confirm his identity, a reanalysis using the latest technology finally confirmed the identity of the deceased last month. However, Kim Jong-deok, who had sent the genetic sample and was waiting for news about his older brother, passed away in August without hearing this news.

Kim Jong-gil, the youngest sibling and representative of the family, said, "Our mother used to say that brother Su-deok was alive in North Korea, so it is heartbreaking to hear that he died in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province. Now, we want to respectfully enshrine him in a warm national cemetery."

According to the Remains Recovery and Identification Team, since the start of remains recovery in April 2000, a total of 239 Republic of Korea Army soldiers, including Private Kim, have been identified.

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