Shenyang witnessed a poignant homecoming as the 13th group of Chinese volunteers killed in the Korean War was brought back from South Korea. Twelve coffins containing the remains of these brave soldiers, accompanied by 146 personal items, flew in on a Chinese Air Force Y-20B transport plane, arriving Wednesday morning.
The formal transfer ceremony at South Korea’s Incheon Airport set the stage for the journey. The plane lifted off at approximately 9:50 AM and was soon joined by J-20 fighters for an escort through Chinese skies, symbolizing national pride. Landing at Shenyang at 11:25 AM, it received a water cannon salute, a traditional honor for heroic missions.
Shortly after, at 11:53 AM, a massive gathering of over 1,800 people assembled for the welcome. Military personnel, wrapped in the national flag, reverently removed the coffins. Veterans, bereaved families, champion soldiers, space explorers from Shenzhou-20, sports stars, educators and students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and young pioneers all stood in unity, offering three bows of deepest respect.
Post-ceremony, the procession moved to the martyrs’ cemetery in Shenyang for burial on April 23. This repatriation is part of 13 joint efforts with South Korea since 2014, repatriating 1,023 heroes under humanitarian guidelines.
The ceremony not only repatriates remains but revives the spirit of sacrifice, reminding the nation of the costs of defending sovereignty.
