“We express our deepest gratitude for your courage, indomitable spirit, patience, and dedication to freedom.”
U.S. Representative Robert E. Auth of New Jersey made this statement on the 11th to Son Myung-hwa (63), head of the Association of Families of ROK POWs, who was visiting the United States. Representative Auth, known as a prominent pro-Korea figure, delivered certificates of commendation on that day through Ms. Son to six surviving ROK POWs, including Yoo Young-bok (95).
ROK POWs refer to Republic of Korea soldiers who were taken captive to North Korea during the Korean War. They suffered various forms of mistreatment, including forced labor in coal mines in North Korea. Approximately 80 ROK POWs who were detained in North Korea, later defected, and are currently living in South Korea, were recorded in 2010, but only 6 remain today.
The ROK POWs who are still alive today are Go Gwang-myeon, Kim Jong-su, Yoo Young-bok, Lee Dae-bong, Lee Seon-woo, and Choi Gi-ho, all of whom are in their 90s. Mr. Yoo was captured by Chinese Communist Forces in June 1953, just over 50 days before the armistice agreement was signed. Taken to North Korea, he worked in the Geomdeok Mine in Tanchon, South Hamgyong Province, then defected after 47 years and returned to South Korea in 2000. He is the only survivor among the seven ROK POWs who filed a damages lawsuit against North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
The award ceremony was planned by Ma Young-ae (62), a North Korean defector who handles Korean-American external cooperation at Representative Auth’s office. Ms. Ma worked as a North Korean human rights activist in the U.S. before being hired by Representative Auth’s office in 2023. Ms. Ma stated, “The United States strives to recover even a single finger bone of its soldiers who went to war and did not return.” She added, “I will work to ensure that the remains of ROK POWs and Korean War veterans can return to their homeland.” Representative Auth’s office also delivered a letter on the 11th to then-U.S. President Trump, requesting the repatriation of the remains of ROK POWs remaining in North Korea.
