First Identification of Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Victims’ Remains... A Step Forward in History

Two Sets of Remains from Damyang Identified and Returned to Families
Nine Sets from Maetijae in Gwangyang to Be Enshrined After Excavation

Excavated artifacts from Maetijae, Gwangyang. Provided by the Yosu Incident Committee

The Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Fact-Finding and Victims’ Honor Restoration Committee (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee") announced on September 5 that it has identified the remains of a victim of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident for the first time and will return them to the family. The Committee also stated that a memorial service for newly excavated remains will be held on September 25 at the indoor gymnasium of Gwangyang City Public Stadium.

This event is intended to provide a respectful funeral for the nine sets of remains newly excavated this year from Maetijae in Gwangyang. For the first time since the excavation of Yeosu-Suncheon Incident victims’ remains began, two sets of remains from Okcheon Spring in Damyang, whose identities were confirmed through DNA testing, will be returned to their families during the ceremony.

The excavation at Maetijae in Gwangyang began in February this year, resulting in the recovery of nine sets of remains and 46 artifacts, including spent cartridges and rubber shoes. The collected remains and artifacts underwent cleaning, preservation, DNA testing, and analysis through August.

At Okcheon Spring in Damyang, 26 sets of remains and 109 artifacts, including spent cartridges and rubber shoes, were recovered in February 2024. The excavated remains were enshrined at the Sejong Memorial House following a memorial service in July 2024. DNA testing has now confirmed the identities of two of the remains.

After the memorial service, the nine sets of remains excavated from Maetijae in Gwangyang will be enshrined at the national cemetery, Sejong Memorial House, and the two identified sets of remains will be handed over to their families.

For the remains whose identities have not yet been confirmed, the Committee will continue to collect blood samples from bereaved families and conduct DNA testing. Additional excavation will be carried out in Chadokgol, Gurye, in November 2025 to further the search for victims and their families.

The Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Fact-Finding and Victims’ Honor Restoration Committee stated, "We will continue to do our utmost to resolve the grief of the bereaved families and contribute to reconciliation with the past and national unity."

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