"The 71st Anniversary of the Korean War" by Monica Koh

Remembering the Korean War

The war on June 25th is also called the Korean War, which was a tragic event in history when tensions between South and North Korea greatly escalated. It is part of a complicated past we must never forget.

On the morning of June 25, 1950, the North Korean army invaded South Korea across the military demarcation line, which signaled the start of the Korean War. Because of the sudden and abrupt attack, the South Korean army was helpless and highly vulnerable. The Han River defense line that guarded the capital collapsed in just three days, and in two months it was pushed down to the Nakdong River to build the last line of defense.

Then, on September 15, 1950, the United Nations (UN) forces launched the “Incheon Landing Operation,” and the Republic of Korea (ROK) military reached a new turning point in the war. After their successful counter-attack operations through the UN's operation and the recapture of Seoul, ROK and UN forces began an all-out operation northward. After capturing Pyongyang and Wonsan, they advanced to the Yalu River.

However, on October 25, 1950, when the Chinese army intervened at the request of the North Korean army, the ROK and UN lost their hold on Pyongyang. On January 4, 1951, the following year, they withdrew to the south of the Han River, and endless battles were fought near the 38th parallel until July 27, 1953, when an armistice was created.

The damage from three years of the war was enormous. There were about 770,000 warriors, prime ministers, and missing people on the battlefield, which led to the displacement of ten million people. The amount of property damage suffered at that time was difficult to even estimate. It is hard to even imagine how terrible the horrors were, considering that about half of the entire South Korean population was affected by war.

The Fight Goes On

On the 71st anniversary of the Korean War, we should take time to commemorate the spirits of the Korean War heroes who sacrificed their lives for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Not only should we remember the countless war heroes who sacrificed themselves but we should also remain grateful to the UN forces who fought together with the ROK Army for South Koreans.

There were a total of 21 countries part of the UN that fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War. Among those, a total of 16 countries--including the United States, Britain, Canada, Turkey, and Australia--sent combat units, which helped immensely during the long battle. The remaining five countries of Denmark, Norway, Italy, Sweden, and India, who had assumed a neutral position, acted as medical support countries instead.

Most notably, the country that sent the most troops during the Korean War was the United States. Britain sent the second largest number of troops to Korea. In the case of Australia, the dispatch of troops was unanimously approved by the Australian Parliament, and these UN forces were put into operation right from the stage of northward advance.

During the Korean War, about 630,000 UN veterans visited Korea to commemorate the battle and the people as well. On June 25th, people everywhere should be grateful to the UN veterans who painstakingly fought for peace in the Korean War. We must remember the sacrifices of South Koreans and the UN forces together.

These photos do not belong to the Korean American Young Leaders (KAYL). All photography credit and rights go to their respective owners.

Korean HistoryKAYL ExecutiveThe Korean War