Private First Class Koo Jagil, Who Fell at 18 During the Korean War, Returns to His Younger Brother After 75 Years

Private First Class Koo Jagil, who died in action at the age of 18 while defending the Republic of Korea during the Korean War, has returned to his younger brother's embrace after 75 years.

The Ministry of National Defense Agency for Killed in Action Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) announced on the 21st that the remains discovered last November at Hill 365 in Masi-ri, Hyoryeong-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu, have been identified as those of the late Private First Class Koo Jagil, a member of the 19th Regiment, 6th Division of the ROK Army. He is the 16th patriotic hero to be identified this year. Since the start of the remains recovery project in 2000, a total of 264 fallen ROK soldiers have been returned to their families.

Private First Class Koo Jagil was born in October 1931 in Suseong-gu, Daegu, as the eldest of eight siblings (six sons and two daughters). He enlisted in the military at the young age of 18 at the onset of the Korean War in 1950. Shortly after enlisting, he participated in the Battle near Gunwi-Uiheung (August 13-28, 1950), where he was killed in action.

The Battle near Gunwi-Uiheung was a confrontation in which the ROK Army's 6th Division blocked the North Korean Army's 1st and 8th Divisions, who were attempting to capture Daegu. Hill 365, where his remains were found, was the site of fierce fighting, with the 7th Regiment of the 6th Division, reinforced by the 2nd Battalion of the 19th Regiment, eventually securing the hill after repeated engagements with North Korean forces.

This identification was made possible thanks to the active efforts of the family search investigation team, the professional excavation team, and soldiers from the Army's 50th Infantry Division. MAKRI is tracing the whereabouts of the families by using the registered address of the fallen soldiers listed in the casualty records. The DNA sample from the late soldier’s younger brother, Koo Jacheon (age 73), was collected in 2020 when an investigator visited his home in person.

The remains were excavated jointly by the MAKRI professional excavation team and soldiers from the Army's 50th Infantry Division. From October 28 to November 22 last year, seven sets of remains and more than 460 personal items were recovered from the Hill 365 area in Gunwi-gun. The remains of Private First Class Koo were discovered on November 19, near the end of the excavation period.

The "Return of the Patriotic Hero" ceremony was held at the request of the family at the home of his younger brother, Koo Jacheon, in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, on this day. Representing the family, his younger brother Koo Jacheon (the eighth son) said, "When I heard the news that my eldest brother's remains had been found, I was so moved that I couldn't sleep that night. I was too young to remember him, but strangely, I couldn't stop crying, and perhaps because we're family, it feels even more poignant. I want to ensure my eldest brother is laid to rest with honor at the National Cemetery," he shared.

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