■ 539 Korea Military Academy cadets deployed to the Pocheon Mudongsan area On June 25, 1950, when the Korean War broke out, the Army Headquarters ordered the Korea Military Academy cadets to block the North Korean army’s advance in the Seopa-Toegyewon area of ​​Pocheon as the situation at the front worsened. Accordingly, 539 people, including all 262 cadets from the first class of the Korea Military Academy who were about 20 days away from their commissions and 277 cadets from the second class who had only entered the academy about 20 days ago, were deployed around Hill 372 in Pocheon to block the North Korean army’s invasion. Although they were called cadets, they were actually young students, around 19 years old. ■ 151 killed before commission, 95 killed after commission On the afternoon of the 26th, the cadets fought against the North Korean army with tanks at Hill 372 in Mudongsan, but failed to defend themselves due to lack of troops, rifles, mortars, and other basic weapons, as well as ammunition. Afterwards, the cadets retreated and fought the North Korean army while moving to Gwangnaru, Pangyo, Suwon, and other places under orders to block the North Korean army’s advance. In the end, by the time the cadets arrived in Daejeon on July 6, a total of 151 cadets, including 65 from the 1st class and 86 from the 2nd class, died as cadets without military numbers. The surviving cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants and continued to be deployed in battle, resulting in the deaths of approximately 90 more cadets from the 1st and 2nd classes. Of the 595 cadets from the 1st and 2nd classes, 246 (or 2 out of 5) died in the Korean War. ■ Has the Republic of Korea forgotten their existence and sacrifice? The surviving cadets of the first class later became the official 10th class of the Korea Military Academy, but the 2nd class of cadets were not officially recognized as such, saying that they only entered the academy and did not receive proper education or graduate. The Korea Military Academy once ignored the fact that the 2nd class of cadets had entered the academy and that they had sacrificed themselves in the Battle of Pocheon. Although they were brave and fulfilled their duties as soldiers, records and memorials of them were buried in the ground for a long time, just like their remains. ■ The best treatment?... Some fallen cadets did not receive even basic treatment. The cadets' participation in the war and sacrifice, and the 2nd class of cadets' honor as people of the Korea Military Academy were restored after the Kim Young-sam government, which came to power in 1993, purged the Hanahwe. All 2nd class cadets received honorary diplomas in May 1996, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Korea Military Academy. However, while their honor was restored, it was revealed that some cadets who died in the Korean War are still not receiving even the basic treatment, let alone the highest treatment, as patriots. According to the results of the investigation by 'Current Affairs Planning Window', the dates and locations of deaths of some cadets were confirmed, but they could not be found in national records or memorial facilities such as the National Cemetery. ■ Now, juniors of the Korea Military Academy are stepping up... The 625 War Cadets Commemorative Association is launched. Graduates of the Korea Military Academy began commemorating and discovering the achievements of the 1st and 2nd classes of cadets, starting with an academic seminar in June of last year. In addition, the 625 War Cadets Commemorative Association was created at the end of last year and began full-scale activities as a national veterans' organization. However, many cadets have already passed away, and even the remaining cadets are old and have difficulty moving or talking. How should their honor be remembered and respected? The production team of [Current Affairs Planning Window] is asking this question through the program. Interview reporter: Lee Young-hyun Camera reporter: Yoo Seong-ju Video editing: Kim Dae-young Data research: Hwang Hyeon-bi Assistant director: Choi Myeong-ho Scheduled broadcast date: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 10:00 AM KBS 1TV #625 #KoreanWar #KoreaArmyAcademy #1stclassofcadets #2ndclassofcadets #10thclassofcadets #11thclassofcadets #Chun Doo-hwan #RetiredGeneralShinHyunsoo #RetiredGeneralParkKyeongseok #ChairmanJangKiho #625WarCadetCommemorationAssociation #372Hill #Mudongsan #NorthKoreanArmy #BattleofPocheon 'Current Affairs Planning Window' homepage https://news.kbs.co.kr/vod/program.do... YouTube / @kbssisa Facebook / changkbs WAVVE Search for 'Current Affairs Planning Window'