Yeongdeok-gun Holds Jangsasang Landing Operation Victory Commemoration Ceremony

73 Years Ago, Honoring the Noble Spirit and Sacrifice of War Veterans with Deep Emotion

Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, held the ‘2023 Jangsa Landing Operation Victory Commemoration Ceremony’ on the 14th at the Victory Monument within Jangsa Beach to commemorate the victory of the Jangsa Landing Operation, which was launched as a diversionary operation for the success of the Incheon Landing Operation, and to inherit the noble achievements and steadfast patriotism of the veterans.

2023 Jangsasang Landing Operation Victory Commemoration Ceremony Venue.

The event was attended by 12 surviving members of the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association, including bereaved families, along with key figures such as Kim Gwang-yeol, Mayor of Yeongdeok-gun; Son Deok-su, Chairman of Yeongdeok County Council; Hwang Young-ho, Director of Welfare and Health Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province; Lee Byung-rok, Commander of the 50th Division Haeryong Brigade; and Kim Ji-hyun, Director of the Southern Gyeongbuk Veterans Affairs Office. About 500 people, including members of Yeongdeok’s veterans organizations, residents, and military personnel, gathered to honor the spirit of the veterans.

In particular, the event featured a military equipment exhibition by the 50th Division and Jangsa Battalion, and Yeongdeok-gun temporarily opened the transport ship Munsanho for free viewing, offering various experiential activities that received high praise.

Additionally, children from Yeongdeok Daycare Center and Ganggu Daycare Center held an event where they presented bouquets to the surviving heroes, members of the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association, moving the attendees to tears.

Moreover, on the evening of the 13th, prior to the event, a memorial service was held by the Yeongdeok Buddhist Temple Association (President Ven. Hyundam) with participation from members of the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association, commemorating the fallen soldiers of the Jangsa Landing Operation.

Ryu Byung-chu, President of the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I was deeply moved by the sincere respect shown to the veterans. I thank Yeongdeok-gun for holding the Jangsa Landing Operation Victory Commemoration Ceremony every year.”

Mayor Kim Gwang-yeol conveyed the significance of the day, stating, “The passionate patriotism of the heroes of the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association is a pride of our county and a precious spiritual asset that must be deeply inherited by future generations.”

The Jangsa Landing Operation was a diversionary operation to ensure the success of the Incheon Landing Operation, aimed at breaking the stalemate of the Korean War. Of the 772 soldiers who participated, about 600 were young student soldiers who were deployed after only two weeks of training. Despite a typhoon (Kezia) and the grounding of the transport ship Munsanho, the landing was carried out.

Although the operation resulted in 92 wounded and 39 guerrilla members who could not board the ship fighting to the last man and dying in battle, totaling 139 casualties, it laid the foundation for the success of the Incheon Landing Operation and is remembered as a battle that will remain forever in Korean War history.