My father died in ‘White Horse Hill’… To my only daughter’s side after 74 years

The Ministry of National Defense's Remains Excavation and Identification Team (hereinafter referred to as the National Team) announced on the 3rd that it had excavated and finally confirmed the identity of the late Second Class Ahn Seong-ho (current rank of Sergeant), who died in the Battle of Baekma Hill, a fierce battlefield in the Korean War.

The deceased enlisted at the age of 24 in July 1951 and died fighting the enemy in the Battle of Baekma Hill as part of the 30th Regiment of the 9th Division on October 8, 1952.

The Battle of Baekma Hill is a major battle in which our military secured control over the Cheorwon Plain and major roads, which are essential for military operations in the central region. The South Korean army that won the battle also suffered significant casualties.

In July of this year, a state-owned professional excavation team excavated the complete remains with most of the remains present without any loss, along with the deceased's identification tag and rank insignia.

The recovered remains were finally identified last September, two months after excavation, after genetic analysis. The fact that the genetic samples of the bereaved family members were secured in advance, and that they were excavated in complete condition and accompanied by identification tags, expedited identification.

The deceased's younger brother, Ahn Seong-bok, had samples collected in 2010, and the deceased's only daughter, Kyung-hee Ahn, had collected samples to confirm the identity of the bereaved family members at public health centers in 2014.

In accordance with the wishes of the bereaved family, the National Defense Corps held a 'Hero of the Nation Return Ceremony' at the home of his daughter Ahn Kyung-hee, located in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, where the remains of the deceased were handed over to the bereaved family. It’s been 74 years since the war.

Mr. Ahn expressed his thoughts, saying, "I couldn't sleep well for several days when I heard that my father's remains were found. Now, I want to shake off all the resentment in my heart and cry my heart out in front of my father's grave."