Private Park Yong-su, a 6·25 War Casualty, Returns to Family After 16 Years Since Excavation

The remains of a veteran who died in the Korean War at the age of 21 have returned to his family after 16 years since their excavation.

The Ministry of National Defense's Remains Excavation and Identification Team (Kookyudan) announced on the 22nd that the identity of the remains excavated in 2009 in the Girin-myeon area of Inje-gun, Gangwon Province, was confirmed as the late Private Park Yong-su of the Republic of Korea Army's 8th Division.

Photo of the late Private First Class Park Yong-su during his lifetime. Photo by the Ministry of National Defense's Remains Recovery and Identification Unit

After searching far and wide, Kookyudan collected a DNA sample from Park Yong-su’s youngest brother, the late Park Gwang-su, in March 2022. Following two rounds of DNA testing and analysis, the family of Private Park Yong-su was identified in December of last year, 16 years after the excavation.

Park Gwang-su, the youngest brother of Private Park Yong-su, served in the Vietnam War and worked as a police officer for 23 years, dedicating his life to finding his elder brother. However, he passed away last year without seeing his brother’s return.

Private Park Yong-su was born in September 1928 in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, as the eldest of six sons and three daughters. After marrying in July 1949, the Korean War broke out about a year into his newlywed life, and he enlisted in the military, leaving behind his wife, first daughter, and unborn child. He served in the 8th Division of the Republic of Korea Army and fought against North Korean forces during the Yangyang-Gangneung battle from June 25 to 27, 1950, where he was killed in action.

The “Hero’s Return Ceremony” for Private Park Yong-su was held at the family home in Yeongcheon City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, at the request of the family. Park Dong-ok (73, female), Private Park Yong-su’s daughter, was dispatched to Germany as a nurse in 1974 and married a Korean miner there; she currently resides in Germany.

Park Dong-ok said, “My mother never gave up hope that my father was still alive somewhere. Now that his remains have been found, we want to lay him to rest together with my mother, who is buried at Seoul National Cemetery, and my youngest uncle at Yeongcheon National Cemetery.” She added, “The return of my father’s remains fills me with overwhelming emotion and tears.”

Lee Sang-sook (73, female), wife of Park Gwang-su, the youngest brother of Private Park Yong-su, also said, “My husband traveled everywhere during his lifetime searching for his brother. I am relieved that now they can be laid to rest together at Yeongcheon National Cemetery.”

Meanwhile, since the remains excavation project began in April 2000, a total of 246 Republic of Korea Army soldiers whose identities have been confirmed have returned to their families.

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