A national hero who enlisted, leaving behind his pregnant wife and young daughter during the Korean War, has returned to his family’s embrace 75 years later. The Ministry of National Defense’s Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) announced on the 9th that a soldier, whose remains were recovered in 2000 near Sangseo-myeon, Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon Province, has been identified as Private Lee Jae-sik (aged 30 at the time of death).
Hailing from Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk, Private Lee enlisted in October 1950 and participated in battles such as Hill 735 (August-September 1951, Yanggu), and the Geumhwa-Geumsung offensive (October 1951, Cheorwon), until he was killed in action during the Sniper Ridge battle in November 1952 while engaged with Chinese forces. The Sniper Ridge battle was a fierce hill combat between South Korea’s 2nd Division and China’s 29th Division in the strategically important ‘Iron Triangle’ area of the central front.
His daughter, Lee Chun-ye (79), had provided DNA samples to the military in 2007 and 2015, but the technology at the time could not confirm their relationship. With advancements in technology, repeated analyses eventually confirmed the identity of the remains.
The military held a ‘Return of the Hero’ event at the Veterans Welfare Center in Donghae City, presenting the family with a confirmation of identity notice and personal belongings.
Lee Chun-ye expressed her mixed emotions: “Hearing that my father’s remains were coming home kept me awake for days with joy. Each visit to the Seoul National Cemetery, I envied those with headstones, and now I am thrilled to place a headstone for my father and lay him to rest with my mother.” She added, “I wanted to lay flowers, spread a mat, and pay respects before my father’s headstone, and I am deeply grateful to fulfill this dream before I die. I have no more wishes.”
The deceased is the 19th national hero identified by MAKRI this year alone. This brings the total number of soldiers whose remains have been returned to their families to 267 since the commencement of the recovery efforts.