121,723 Badges Made to Remember Soldiers Who Never Came Home

On June 5, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) of South Korea announced the launch of the 121723 Taegukgi That Must Be Found to the End campaign, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification (MAKRI), Hanwha, and Naver Happybean, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean War.

This campaign aims to commemorate and locate ROK soldiers who died in the war but were never reunited with their families by distributing Taegukgi-shaped badges with unique serial numbers, totaling 121,723. The badge was designed by Professor Lee Jong Hyuk and students at Kwangwoon University, inspired by the Taegukgi that wraps the caskets of fallen Korean War soldiers.

Notably, the badges are made using recycled steel leftover from the production of the K9 self-propelled howitzer, adding special significance to the memory of national heroes and their sacrifices.

An MPVA official explained that the campaign embodies the spirit of honoring national heroes. The ministry will set up Taegukgi booths at major commemorative events to distribute the badges.