Unsung Hero of the Korean War Do Jong Soon Regained Her Honor After 71 Years... Her Death in Action is Recognized

- The late Do Jong Soon, who died during her duty in the intelligence unit of the US Far East Command during the Korean War

- Through two years of investigation by ACRC... Her death in action is recognized after 71 years and moved to the National Cemetery

(1, March. 2025, ACRC)

A female hero who served as a member of Intelligence Unit during the Korean War was on the verge of being deprived of her honor because she was a member of the US military at the time of her death. Due to the dedication of related agencies centered on the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan), she was finally able to regain her honor.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission delivered a certificate of death in action to the bereaved family of late Do Jong Soon and enshrined the plaque with the ACRC chairperson, the head of the Seoul National Cemetery, the head of the planning and coordination of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and the head of personnel staff of the Korea Air Force at the Seoul National Cemetery at Feb. 28th, 11a.m.

In July 1951, when the Korean War was in full swing, the late Do Jong Soon (female, born on March 1, 1932) lost her life at the age of 21 by a Chinese army. She was converted to the US Far East Command after performing a special mission as a member of the HID*. The Intelligence Commander issued a death confirmation of her death in action in Jul 1951, however, she was found to be fired from the Korean military in 2012 and died while working as a member of the US military during the deliberation on the special duty in 2012, so her death certificate was collected and memorial plaque at the Daejeon National Cemetery was also removed.

  * HID: Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment. An agent dispatched to North Korea.

The third sister of the late Do, who is now 86 years old, was said to have shed tears and resented the country by beating her chest at the news that "the plaque was removed." The sixth brother, who is 75 years old, filed a grievance petition to ACRC in 2022, asking for "restoration of sister's honor."

ACRC listened to the heartbreaking story of the late Do Jong Soon and the bereaved family, reviewed related materials, and expressed opinion to deliberate on whether the late Do Jong Soon was died in action. The decision of the Intelligence Command, however, did not change. ACRC visited the sixth brother afterwards and promised, "We will be with the late Do to the end." Relevant agencies including the Ministry of National Defense, Intelligence Command and the Korea Air Force joined forces to recognize the death in action of late Do Jong Soon.

In June 2024, ACRC expressed opinion to the Korea Air Force to deliberate on whether the late Do died in action. On Dec. 24, 2024, 71 years after she lost her life, her death in action was finally recognized like the Christmas Miracle* and a plaque was enshrined at the Seoul National Cemetery to restore the honor.

  * The Christmas Miracle: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which is a series of widespread,unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of the World War I.

Head of the Seoul National Cemetery, Kwon Dae Il, said, "The sacrifices of patriotic martyrs and the fallen heroes must be remembered. I hope that the late Do Jong Soon will rest in peace with all patriotic martyrs and the fallen heroes."

Chairperson of the ACRC, Ryu Chul Whan said, "The government will forever remember the sacrifice and dedication of the late Do Jong Soon, the national hero who joined the battlefield without sparing her life for the country. ACRC will continue to do our best to protect the rights and interests by taking responsibility for those who have dedicated themselves to the country and take care of the bereaved family, listening to the inconveniences and grievances in their lives so that patriots and who live alone at an old age are not left behind."