The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said it has selected Army Col. Choi Young-soo and Lt. Col. Charles Green of the Australian Army as the Korean War heroes for October 2026.
Choi (1917-1950) entered the Korean Constabulary Officer School, the predecessor of the Korea Military Academy, as a member of its second class in 1946 and was commissioned as an officer.
A lieutenant colonel when the Korean War broke out, he served as deputy commander of the 7th Regiment, 6th Infantry Division, striking enemy forces with 81mm mortars and 57mm anti-tank guns. His unit held Chuncheon for three days and advanced as far as the Yalu River. He was killed in action at the Battle of Onjong after Chinese forces launched a surprise attack.
The government posthumously promoted him one rank and awarded him the Order of Military Merit, Chungmu, in 1950.
Green (1919-1950) fought in the Korean War as commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
He landed in Busan in September 1950 and, as part of the British Commonwealth's 27th Brigade, moved through Kaesong and Sariwon before entering Pyongyang in October. He was critically wounded by shell fragments fired by enemy forces during operations near the Dalcheon River and died of his wounds.
The government posthumously awarded him the Order of Military Merit, Eulji, in 2019.
