Monument to the Gapyeong Region Battle

This monument was completed on March 15, 1958 to commemorate the last stand the ROK 5th and 6th Divisions and the US 9th Corps against the North Koreans in the Gapyeong region. The 1st Corps command and Gapyeong county oversaw the project. The Battle of Gapyeong Yongmunsan (May 17~28, 1951) was where the ROK 6th Division defeated three Chinese divisions in an all-out battle and retook the Hwacheon power plant. This was one of the most successful battles for the UN allies in the Korean War. The ROKA and UN forces, which were being driven back during the Chinese Fifth Phase Offensive (or Spring Offensive), reorganized the battle lines by forming a new defense zone leading from Daepo-ri to Yongmunsan and Gupabal. At dusk on May 18, two divisions of the 63rd Chinese Army crossed the Bukhangang and Hongcheongang and attacked the front-lines of the 6th Division’s 2nd Regiment. The Regiment used all available firepower and counterattacked resolutely. The 2nd Regiment’s successful front-line stand enabled the 6th Division’s 7th and 19th Regiments to attack the Chinese from the sides and rear. This dealt a decisive blow to three divisions of the Chinese 63rd Army, which lost almost 20,000 troops, along with much equipment, and was forced to retreat.

The monument is to commemorate the most successful battle of the Korean War, the battle of Gapyeong. The facility for local resident is placed nearby the monument.