Ministry of Defense and National Institute of Cultural Heritage Sign Agreement on Preservation of Korean War Fallen Soldiers' Relics

[Financial News] An agreement has been signed for the scientific preservation treatment and research of excavated relics related to Korean War fallen soldiers.
On the 22nd, the Ministry of Defense Excavation and Identification Unit (Gukyudan) and the National Institute of Cultural Heritage announced that they would cooperate on preservation treatment to enhance the value of excavated relics of Korean War fallen soldiers, joint use of facilities and equipment for scientific investigation and research of relics, technical and human exchanges, and securing budgets.
After this official agreement, the first priority relics for preservation treatment requested by Gukyudan are those of identified fallen soldiers of the national army.
Gukyudan explained that the 'Spirit of the Nation Box', which is delivered to bereaved families during the return of heroes event, contains relics excavated along with remains, and is considered the top priority for preservation treatment as it is an item that allows bereaved families to feel the traces of the deceased.
The practical exchange and cooperation between the two institutions began in 2020, and over the past five years, more than 1,300 relics excavated and collected by Gukyudan have been preserved through the National Institute of Cultural Heritage. 
Previously, the two institutions had promised long-term cooperation related to the registration of cultural heritage for excavated relics related to the Korean War, which became possible with the implementation of the Modern Cultural Heritage Act in September last year, 75 years after the war.



wangjylee@fnnews.com Jong-yun Lee, Reporter