Remains of soldier killed in Korean War return home after 75 years

Jeon Myung-sook, left, niece of the late Jeon Seung-nam, and Col. Kim Sung-hwan, acting head of a Defense Ministry unit handling remains recovery, pose with a commemorative box during a ceremony in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

The remains of a South Korean soldier killed in the Korean War (1950-53) have been returned to his family after 75 years, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.

The soldier was identified as Jeon Seung-nam, who was 19 at the time and served in the Army’s 8th Division. He was killed during a fight at Mount Baekseok in Gangwon Province in October 1951.

His remains were recovered in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, in November 2024, and his identity was later confirmed through DNA analysis, the ministry recovery unit said.

Born in 1931 in Naju, South Jeolla Province, Jeon volunteered for service in May 1951 during the height of the war. After completing training, he was assigned to the 8th Division and deployed to the front lines, where fighting remained intense. The fighting was part of a series of intense clashes in the area, as South Korean forces sought to secure key high ground against North Korean and Chinese troops during armistice talks.

It took years to confirm his identity. DNA samples were first collected from his younger sister in 2017, with additional samples from his brother and niece secured last year. Both siblings died before the identification was completed.

A ceremony was held at his niece’s home in Seoul to return the remains. She said the family plans to lay him to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery.

Since launching its recovery program in 2000, the ministry has identified 272 fallen soldiers. Many others have yet to be identified, with officials urging families of missing Korean War soldiers to take part in DNA collection efforts.