Seoul: The defense ministry has announced plans to excavate the remains of 200 South Korean soldiers who perished during the 1950-53 Korean War. This initiative is set for this year, demonstrating a significant commitment to recovering and honoring the fallen soldiers.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry also intends to collect 10,000 genetic samples from the families of the deceased to aid in identifying 20 fallen soldiers. The plan involves deploying around 100,000 personnel annually to excavation sites, working over a four-to-eight week period to achieve these objectives.

To ensure the project's continuity, the ministry plans to develop a blueprint that will guide excavation efforts from 2027 to 2031. Additionally, they aim to secure more genetic analyzers to enhance the identification process.

Since the project began in 2000, 11,488 remains have been excavated, with 270 identified. However, nearly 90 percent of the 133,192 soldiers remain buried and unaccounted for, as reported by the ministry.