Photo of the enshrinement ceremony for 17 remains of civilian victims from the Korean War in Hampyeong County, Jeonnam.
An enshrinement ceremony was held in Hampyeong County, Jeonnam, to collect the remains of civilian victims who were killed by military and police forces during the Korean War and to honor their memory.
The ceremony, held on June 18 in the Wollya-ri area of Wollya-myeon, was attended by more than 40 people, including Hampyeong County Governor Lee Sangik, members of the Hampyeong Incident Victims' Families Association, officials from the Korea Institute of Prehistoric Culture, and bereaved families.
The ceremony included a floral tribute, incense offering, and the reading of a memorial address. Participants paid tribute to the victims and offered comfort to their families. Hampyeong County recovered the remains of 17 civilian victims and six personal belongings who were killed by military and police forces during the Korean War.
The excavation of the remains is part of efforts to uncover the truth behind the "Hampyeong 11th Division Incident," which took place between November 1950 and January 1951 in Wollya-myeon, Haebo-myeon, and Nasan-myeon in Hampyeong, and to help heal the pain of the bereaved families.
The "Hampyeong 11th Division Incident" is a representative case of human rights violations by state power, in which the 11th Division of the Republic of Korea Army massacred 258 unarmed civilians under the pretext of suppressing partisans, even though there was no combat situation.
The excavation investigation recovered 17 remains from a total of 16 burial sites, along with six personal belongings such as belts and buttons. Among the remains, the identities of two victims were confirmed through DNA analysis.
The recovered remains and personal belongings are temporarily enshrined at the "Sejong Memorial House" in Sejong Special Self-Governing City. In the future, those whose identities are confirmed through DNA analysis by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be returned to their families according to the wishes of the bereaved.
Governor Lee Sangik stated, "I hope that this excavation of remains has helped restore the dignity of those who were sacrificed by state violence and has provided at least some comfort to the bereaved families. I will continue to practice just and compassionate administration with an attitude that is not ashamed before history."
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