War Hero Returns Home After Over 70 Years

the late Private First Class Kim Hak-je

Late Staff Sergeant Bae Seok-rae

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Two 'nameless heroes' who died during the Korean War are returning home after more than 70 years.

They are the late Sergeant Second Class Bae Seok-rae, excavated from Hwaseolmari Hill in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and the late Private First Class Kim Hak-je, a Republic of Korea soldier whose remains were repatriated from the United States last June. The families' genetic samples played a decisive role in the final identification of the two.

Sergeant Second Class Bae belonged to the 31st Regiment of the 2nd Division. After participating in the Korean War, he was killed in action on July 11, 1953, during the 4th Battle of Hwaseolmari Hill, just about two weeks before the signing of the armistice agreement (July 27, 1953). The 4th Battle was fought by the Republic of Korea's 2nd Division, which held Baengmagoji and Hwaseolmari Hill in northern Cheorwon, to repel an attack by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's 73rd Division under the 23rd Army. Sergeant Bae's remains were excavated through the recovery of war dead in the DMZ conducted under the September 19, 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. Numerous personal effects, including ammunition, a bayonet, identification tags, and combat boots, were also discovered.

Private Kim was a member of the KATUSA (Korean Augmentation To the United States Army), assigned to the 31st Regiment of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950, where U.S. and Chinese forces clashed. His remains were repatriated this year during the Korean War anniversary event by the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

The Ministry of National Defense plans to hold a 'Return Ceremony for National Heroes' and a 'Burial Ceremony' to honor the sacrifice and dedication of the deceased, in consultation with their families.