Portrait of Sgt. Kang Yoon-sik / Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
The remains of a Korean War veteran who left behind his wife and two sons to join the fight have been returned to his family after an agonizing 73-year wait. The Ministry of National Defense's excavation team confirmed the identity of the fallen soldier to be Sgt. Kang Yoon-sik of the Republic of Korea Army's 5th Infantry Division.
Kang, born on Jeju Island in September 1922, enlisted voluntarily at the Jeju 5th Training Center in September 1950 in the wake of the Korean War. Married in 1942, he had two sons before dedicating himself to the military cause. He participated in key battles.
Tragically, Kang was killed in action in Inje, Gangwon Province during a battle against the North Korean Army's 6th and 12th Divisions on April 27, 1951. His remains, recovered in 2012, have now been identified through meticulous genetic analysis.
The breakthrough in confirming the veteran's identity came after the deceased's great-grandson, who joined the military in 2021, actively encouraged his family to provide genetic samples.
A solemn ceremony was held at the family's home in Gyeonggi Province, where the Ministry of National Defense delivered a notification of identity confirmation and returned a medal and personal belongings to the family.
Kang Cheol-jin, expressed his astonishment, stating, "I never dreamed that a genetic match would confirm my grandfather's identity like this."
Kim Young-ja, Kang's daughter-in-law, shared her heartfelt sentiments, saying, "Although my mother-in-law couldn't share her life with her husband for a long time, I hope that they can finally rest together in Jeju, fulfilling the dream they had."
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