China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held a solemn ceremony on April 22, 2026, transferring the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers soldiers who fell during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). The event at Incheon International Airport also included the repatriation of 146 personal artifacts belonging to the fallen soldiers.
This year marks 76 years since Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River to support the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during the conflict. Since 2014, the ROK has returned 980 sets of Chinese martyrs' remains through this annual humanitarian initiative. The latest handover comes as both nations continue to strengthen cultural and historical exchanges amid evolving regional dynamics.
Chinese officials emphasized the soldiers' sacrifice as "an eternal bond between peoples," while ROK representatives acknowledged the ceremony's role in "healing historical wounds." The remains will be reburied in Shenyang's Korean War Martyrs' Cemetery, a site that has become a symbol of cross-border reconciliation efforts.
