[Forgotten Hero]② Ignored Survivors... Even Turned Away from 'Death'

North Korea Ignored Armistice... "No Prisoners Held"
Previous Governments Did Nothing to Rescue, Didn't Even Search for Survivors
Most Prisoners in 'Unreported Death Notices' Were Young Soldiers

Editor's NoteJuly 27, 1953. The armistice agreement was signed, and the gunfire on the Korean Peninsula ceased. However, tens of thousands of South Korean POWs were forced into North Korean coal mines without returning to their families, and the young soldiers who rushed to the battlefield became "forgotten heroes" amid the homeland's neglect. Seventy years later, the surviving detainees in North Korea are estimated to be over 90 years old. This is why the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's term is regarded as the "last chance." On the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement, we examine the system that has ignored the sacrifices of South Korean POWs and seek improvement measures.

Since the armistice agreement, no South Korean POW has been directly rescued by any government over the past 70 years. For 16 years now, efforts to identify surviving detainees in North Korea have also been neglected. In particular, the government has effectively blocked even the obituary notices of returning South Korean POWs, leading to criticism that it has not properly honored the dedication of war veterans.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Unification, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 25th, during the 1953 armistice talks, the United Nations Command estimated the number of missing South Korean soldiers at about 82,000. On the other hand, the communist side presented lists of 4,417 UN prisoners of war (3,189 U.S. soldiers) and 7,142 South Korean POWs at the negotiation table. Initially, the North had boasted of capturing tens of thousands of POWs, but they drastically reduced the number to mobilize labor for postwar reconstruction.

Prisoner exchange conducted at Panmunjom in August 1953.

The Geneva Conventions, which established standards for humanitarian treatment in war, stipulate the "prompt release and repatriation" of South Korean POWs. The July 1953 Korean War armistice agreement between South and North Korea also clearly addressed the repatriation of POWs and civilians. It allowed the return of civilians north of the Military Demarcation Line, and Article 3 of the agreement specifically set a period of "completion of prisoner repatriation within 60 days."

Accordingly, the allied forces transferred all 83,000 prisoners of war from the People's Army and Chinese forces who wished to be repatriated, but the North ultimately handed over only 8,343 South Korean POWs. It is estimated that at least 50,000 remained detained in North Korea thereafter. However, North Korea has consistently denied this, dismissing it as "a closed matter" whenever the issue arises. They still maintain the position that no prisoners are detained.

"No POWs" lie exposed... Government abandons survivors

A scene of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army transporting South Korean prisoners of war during the Korean War. [Image source: book 'The Korean War as They Saw It 1']

The North Korean lie was exposed starting with the return of the late Lieutenant Jo Chang-ho in 1994. Especially during the 2000 inter-Korean summit and the family reunion event, 18 surviving South Korean POWs met their families in the South, indicating that there were more survivors than the North claimed.

However, successive governments shirked responsibility. Even after confirming evidence of surviving South Korean POWs, not a single one was rescued. All 80 who returned alive escaped on their own or with the help of human rights organizations. The Ministry of National Defense, which oversees active-duty South Korean POWs, as well as the Ministry of Unification and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which should have been responsibly involved, also neglected the issue.

The government stopped efforts to find survivors this year, marking the 16th year of inaction. According to data compiled by the National Intelligence Service in 2007 based on testimonies from defectors, the estimated number of South Korean POWs detained in North Korea at that time was 1,770?560 survivors, 910 deceased, and 300 missing. Assuming they were captured at a minimum age of 20, many are estimated to have passed away by now, as they would be around 90 years old this year. A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "There have been no returning South Korean POWs since 2011," adding, "Accurate identification of survivors has been limited since then."

Lee Ji-yoon, team leader of the North Korean Human Rights Citizens' Coalition, emphasized, "Identifying survivors sends a message that the nation has not forgotten their sacrifice and serves as a warning that North Korea's inhumane persecution is being monitored." She stressed, "Efforts to repatriate those who dedicated themselves to the homeland must not cease."

'Obituaries' blocked by Ministry of National Defense... "There are many ways to honor sacrifices"

Park Sun-young, Chairperson of the nonprofit organization Mulmangcho. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

The Ministry of National Defense has also been criticized for failing to properly honor South Korean POWs who have died. In December 2020, controversy arose over allegations that the Ministry exerted undue pressure to block obituaries. At that time, a foreign media outlet reported an article titled "The Lonely Burial Ceremony of South Korean POWs," and the Ministry requested the deletion of the article not from the media but from the nonprofit organization Mulmangcho. The organization claims that the Ministry exerted external pressure, suspecting that Mulmangcho, which has supported POW repatriation, provided related information.

A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "There have been cases where returning South Korean POWs refused media coverage due to concerns for the safety of surviving family members in North Korea," adding, "Generally, obituaries are not announced if the bereaved families refuse coverage." However, the names of returning South Korean POWs have already been publicly disclosed multiple times through the 2007 'North Korean Human Rights White Paper' published by the Korea Institute for National Unification, the 2008 'Comprehensive Understanding of the South Korean POW Issue' by the North Korean Human Rights Information Center, and numerous National Assembly audit reports.

Ultimately, the Ministry of National Defense finds it difficult to avoid criticism for failing to honor the deaths of war veterans, citing the presence of family members remaining in North Korea as justification. Park Sun-young, director of Mulmangcho and former member of the 18th National Assembly, stated, "Even if names were concealed, there were many ways to announce the obituaries of South Korean POWs and honor their sacrifices." She criticized, "The Ministry of National Defense's attitude of ignoring South Korean POWs in crisis at this moment forgets its duty as a state and abandons being a nation."

Asia Economy, with the cooperation of Mulmangcho, collected data on 67 of the 80 returning South Korean POWs who quietly passed away. Most had participated in the war in their teens or twenties, and at least 42 were of corporal rank or lower. Considering that promotions were made after their return, this suggests that most South Korean POWs were not officers but young soldiers sent to the front lines. Although the information is limited, it has been disclosed to raise awareness of the sacrifices and dedication of war veterans, albeit belatedly.