"Still Young" Despite Objections, Korean War Veteran Private Ju Young-jin Returns to Family

Despite His Father's Objections,
He Enlisted as a Student Soldier Saying "The Country Is in Trouble"

During the Korean War, despite his father's objections that "you are still young and do not have to go to the military," Private Ju Young-jin, who enlisted as a student soldier to protect his homeland, died in battle at the age of 18. His remains have now returned to his family.

The Ministry of National Defense's Remains Recovery and Identification Team announced on the 15th that the identity of the remains excavated in October 2000 around Angang-eup, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was confirmed to be Private Ju Young-jin of the Republic of Korea Army’s 7th Division. With this, the total number of identified remains of fallen soldiers among the approximately 11,400 excavated has reached 251, who have been returned to their families.

Private Ju was born in February 1928 in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, as the youngest of five sons. He grew up in Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, following his father, and was highly devoted to his studies, attending Jeonbuk Public Middle School, which raised his family’s expectations. When the Korean War broke out while he was in high school and news came that North Korean forces were advancing south, he and his friends walked to Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do, to enlist as student soldiers.

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According to his surviving family, his father tried to dissuade him, saying, "You are still young, so you don’t have to go to the military." However, Private Ju said, "If there was no war, I might not have gone, but since there is a war and the country is in trouble, I must go quickly," and left home. He then joined the 1st Training Center in Daegu as a student soldier in August 1950. Without proper training, he was deployed to the front lines and fought bravely as part of the 7th Division in the "Gigae-Angang Battle (August 9 to September 14, 1950)," where he was killed in action. It was only six days after his deployment.

The Gigae-Angang Battle was a defensive engagement during the time when the Republic of Korea Army and United Nations forces were holding the Nakdong River defense line. The ROK Army’s Capital Division, reinforced by the 3rd Regiment of the 7th Division, blocked the southward advance of the North Korean 12th Division in the areas of Gigae-myeon, Pohang-si, and Angang-eup, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

To confirm the identity of Private Ju Young-jin’s remains, the Remains Recovery Team conducted research on war casualties by region, analyzed military service records and casualty lists to verify the soldier’s registered domicile, and tracked down the family with the cooperation of administrative offices. As a result, in 2022, investigators were able to visit in person and collect genetic samples. Thanks to advances in genetic analysis technology, a more precise reanalysis was conducted, leading to the final confirmation of his identity.

Meanwhile, the "Return of the National Defense Hero" ceremony was held at the request of the family at their home in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, on the same day. All of the deceased’s siblings have passed away, and his nephew, Ju Myung-sik (76), is responsible for family affairs. Influenced by his uncle, Ju Myung-sik was commissioned as an officer through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (9th class) and completed his military service.

Ju said, "I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Ministry of National Defense officials who excavated the remains and allowed my uncle to rest in peace. It is a great honor to enshrine my uncle at the National Cemetery in Daejeon, the sacred ground of national defense," adding, "Finally, we have been able to resolve the grievance of our ancestor."