Hwarang Order of Military Merit Delivered After 70 Years... Late Private Yang Youngjun's Honor Restored

Mokpo City Presents Medal to Private Yang Youngjun’s Maternal Nephew Jeong Gyeongmyeon

Mokpo City, Jeonnam Gwangju Special Consolidated City, restored the honor of a Korean War veteran by presenting the Hwarang Order of Military Merit to the bereaved family more than 70 years after his service. Though he dedicated himself to his country during the Korean War, he had not received the decoration due to the chaos of war.

On the 20th, the family of the late Private Yang Youngjun, a veteran of the Korean War, received the Hwarang Military Merit Medal and the medal certificate. Provided by Mokpo City

The city announced that on July 20, it held a ceremony to present the Hwarang Order of Military Merit and its certificate to the bereaved family of the late Private Yang Youngjun, a veteran of the Korean War.

Private Yang Youngjun was recognized for his distinguished conduct during the Korean War and was designated as a recipient of the Order of Military Merit. However, because of the urgency of war and postwar turmoil, the medal was never delivered to him. Decades later, through the Army Headquarters' "Korean War Order of Military Merit Recovery Program," his achievements were rediscovered, and the medal was finally delivered to his family more than 70 years after the war.

The Hwarang Order of Military Merit is awarded to soldiers who demonstrate outstanding military achievements and bravery in combat. This ceremony was especially significant as it represented the state's long-overdue gratitude and respect for the veteran's service.

On this day, Jeong Gyeongmyeon, the late soldier’s maternal nephew, received the medal and certificate on behalf of the family.

Mr. Jeong said, "It is deeply meaningful and an honor to receive the medal on behalf of my uncle, who dedicated himself to the country during the Korean War. I am grateful to everyone who worked to restore my uncle’s honor."

Mokpo Mayor Kang Seonghui stated, "We owe today’s free and peaceful Republic of Korea to the noble sacrifice and patriotism of our veterans. We will continue to strengthen our respect for national merit recipients and their families, and do our utmost to ensure that their sacrifices and contributions to the country are duly recognized."

Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters' "Korean War Order of Military Merit Recovery Program" is being carried out to locate veterans and bereaved families who were designated to receive the Order of Military Merit during the war but, due to the chaos of the times, never actually received them—thereby reaffirming the value of service and sacrifice for the nation and restoring the veterans’ honor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.