Cheonan City awards a commendation plaque to the deceased’s younger sister who provided DNA samples

The remains of the late Sergeant First Class (currently Sergeant) Jung In-hak, who fought and died in the Korean War, have returned to his family after 73 years.

Cheonan City announced that on the 19th, a homecoming ceremony for the late Sergeant First Class Jung In-hak was held at the family’s residence in Jiksan-eup, organized by the Ministry of National Defense’s Remains Excavation and Identification Team.

Born in 1932 as the second of nine sons and five daughters, Sergeant First Class Jung In-hak enlisted in the Army’s 7th Division on September 15, 1951. He was killed in action at the young age of 20 on July 25, 1953, during a battle in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do.

The Ministry of National Defense’s Remains Excavation and Identification Team excavated the remains of a fallen soldier in the Cheorwon-gun area of Gangwon-do on November 25 last year and confirmed his identity through DNA comparison with his family.

Sergeant First Class Jung In-hak is the 249th individual identified among the 13,383 remains excavated by the Ministry of National Defense’s Remains Excavation and Identification Team.

The ceremony was attended by Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don, Lee Geun-won, head of the Ministry of National Defense’s Remains Excavation and Identification Team, the deceased’s younger sister Jung Byeong-suk, and military officials. The event proceeded with the reading of the identity confirmation notice, the presentation of the Korean War service medal, and the delivery of the “Spirit of Patriotism” box.

Cheonan City awarded a commendation plaque to the deceased’s younger sister, Jung Byeong-suk, who provided DNA samples, recognizing her contribution to restoring her brother’s honor and enabling him to rest in peace in the embrace of his homeland.

Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don said, “I offer my deepest condolences to the family who have waited for such a long time,” adding, “I hope that Sergeant First Class Jung In-hak, who devoted himself to the nation, may now rest in peace in the arms of his country and family.”   

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