The '75th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir,' honoring the Hungnam evacuation operation during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, was held at 11 a.m. on the 11th in front of the statue of General MacArthur at Incheon Freedom Park, hosted by the Chosin Reservoir Battle Commemoration Association. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

75 years ago, during Korea's coldest and harshest winter, a miracle unfolded on this land alongside the tragedy of war, much like a drama.

The '75th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir,' honoring the Hungnam evacuation operation during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, was held at 11 a.m. on the 11th in front of the statue of General MacArthur at Incheon Freedom Park, hosted by the Chosin Reservoir Battle Commemoration Association.

The Hungnam evacuation operation, also known as the 'Miracle of Christmas,' took place in December 1950.

In the heart of winter, the Chosin Reservoir area on the Kaema Plateau became an extreme frozen land with temperatures dropping to -40℃. There, the U.S. 1st Marine Division and UN forces, trapped in a encirclement by 120,000 Chinese troops, fought a desperate two-week battle amidst the threat of annihilation. This was the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

Their fighting spirit was not merely for their own survival. Thanks to their efforts in holding back the Chinese forces, the ROK and UN forces were able to secure an escape route towards Hungnam.

The time created by this battle led to a miracle. Approximately 100,000 refugees, seeking freedom, flocked to Hungnam port. The decision made during the urgent evacuation operation to abandon military supplies and prioritize evacuating as many refugees as possible completed the Hungnam evacuation operation, the most beautiful Christmas miracle in human history.

Five babies born aboard the SS Meredith Victory during the Hungnam evacuation were nicknamed 'Kimchi No. 1' through 'Kimchi No. 5.' The babies grew up and were reunited with the sailors who had saved them.

This great epic, which rescued a total of 100,000 lives, reminds us that the freedom and peace we enjoy today were never obtained for free.

The slogan for this commemoration, 'Freedom Was Not Frozen That Winter,' signifies the spirit of respecting life that never extinguished even in extreme circumstances.

Incheon Freedom Park, where the event was held, is a place imbued with the will to defend freedom, marked by the statue of General MacArthur, the hero of the Incheon Landing Operation.

From top: Jo Hyung-gon (left), Executive Chairman of the Chosin Reservoir Battle Commemoration Association; Kim Seok-woo, former Vice Minister of Unification; Lee Seok-bok, Representative of the Korean Buddhist Association for the Defense of the Republic of Korea; Ko Young-joo, President of the Liberal Democratic Party; Lee Jae-chun, Standing Representative of the Chosin Reservoir Battle Commemoration Association; Jang Kyung-deok, Co-Representative of the Chosin Reservoir Battle Commemoration Association; and Lee Dong-bok, former Member of the National Assembly. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

The commemoration ceremony reviewed the entire process of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Hungnam evacuation, serving as a time of remembrance for the souls of the veterans who shed blood on foreign soil. It was an opportunity to shed new light on the earnestness of the 100,000 refugees who did not give up hope amidst despair and the humanism of those who embraced them.

Jo Hyung-gon, Executive Chairman of the Chosin Reservoir Battle Commemoration Association, stated, "Although 75 years have passed, it is still unforgettable. The courage and sacrifice that only a few survived to remember still live vibrantly in our hearts. I express my gratitude to the heroes who shared the warmth of freedom that was not frozen that winter and created a miracle."

By Reporter Im Yo-hee