Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Korea, foreign military attachés discuss excavation of Korean War dead
Members of the foreign military attaché corps walk past the Memorial Gate toward the Memorial Tower at Seoul National Cemetery during a tribute ceremony in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense
By Kim Hyun-bin
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) hosted an event Tuesday inviting members of the foreign defense attaché corps stationed in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate on recovering the remains of fallen soldiers from the 1950-53 Korean War.
The event was held as part of commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and focused on honoring the sacrifices of United Nations forces who fought alongside South Korea to defend its democracy.
Fought from 1950 to 1953, the Korean War began when North Korea invaded the South, prompting a U.N.-led military response. Troops from 22 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada, Australia and Italy, participated in combat or medical support operations under the U.N. Command. The war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving many soldiers still unaccounted for.
During the event, South Korean officials expressed gratitude to the participating nations for their support during the war and briefed attendees on the current status of U.N. forces who were killed or went missing in action. They also highlighted MAKRI’s ongoing efforts to locate and identify remains, and proposed further cooperation on collecting DNA samples from the families of the fallen to expedite the identification process.
Of the 22 nations that supported South Korea during the war, 16 have resident military attachés in the country. About 30 representatives from 12 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands and Canada, attended the event, with some unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts.
The program included a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery, a briefing on current excavation efforts and military history involving U.N. troops and a tour of South Korea’s identification center.
Col. Stefano Marra, defense attaché of the Italian Embassy in Seoul, said the sacrifices made by Korean War veterans, including Italian forces, are clearly reflected in South Korea’s present-day prosperity. “This event reminds us of the critical role of MAKRI and the importance of ensuring such tragedies never occur again,” he said.
Lee Geun-won, head of MAKRI, emphasized the shared responsibility to bring the fallen home. “The freedom and peace we enjoy today are the result of the blood and sweat of the South Korean and U.N. forces,” he said. “Our mission is to reunite them with their families, beyond borders.”