40 Remains Found in Asan
Wrist Wrapped with 'Ppippiseon'
In Asan City, Chungnam Province, a large number of remains presumed to have been massacred and buried during the Korean War 73 years ago were excavated.
The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Issues (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) announced on the 28th that about 40 remains related to the 'Asan Collaboration Suspect Victim Incident' were discovered in the air-raid shelter around Seongjaesan Mountain in Gongsu-ri, Baebang-eup, Asan City.
Remains of Korean War civilian victims found with military telephone wire 'Ppippiseon' still wrapped [Photo provided by Truth and Reconciliation Commission] [Image source=Yonhap News]
The incident occurred between September and November 1950, when police officers from Onyang Police Station accused local residents of aiding the People's Army and carried out a mass massacre in the air-raid shelters around Seongjaesan Mountain and nearby areas.
The excavation began on the 7th and the site was opened to the public to inform about the vivid mass massacre situation during the Korean War. This is the first time a national agency has undertaken the excavation of remains of victims accused of collaboration during the Korean War.
At least 40 remains were confirmed in this excavation. The remains were densely buried along an air-raid shelter measuring 3 meters in width and 14 meters in length. Most of the discovered remains are estimated to be healthy men in their late 20s to early 40s.
The photo shows remains found in an air-raid shelter in Gongsu-ri, Baebang-eup, Asan-si, Chungnam. [Photo by Truth and Reconciliation Commission] [Image source=Yonhap News]
Notably, many of the remains were found with their knees bent. Rusted bullet casings were placed above the heads of the remains, and some of the wrist bones had military telephone wires called 'ppippi-seon' wrapped around them.
Additionally, rifles and 57 bullet casings, 3 rifle bullets, 15 carbine casings, and 99-type rifle casings used by the Japanese army, presumed to be massacre tools, were found at the excavation site. Personal items such as numerous buttons, 9 belts, and 39 shoes were also confirmed. The remains excavated this time are scheduled to be recovered through cleaning and other processes by mid-April.
Meanwhile, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission plans to complete the excavation and recovery of remains around Seongjaesan Mountain by mid-April and continue excavation work in the Baegam-ri area.
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