How face restoration technology allowed daughter to see face of father killed in Korean War

Indeed a picture is worth a thousand words but for some family members of our fallen heroes, putting a face to the name "father" is an indescribable experience.

Ahn sung-jin has more.

Song Young-hwan.

He was only 26 years old when he died on the battlefield during the Korean War.

His daughter Song Jae-suk was only 3 years old.

She would go to the National Cemetery to remember him, but for her whole life, she knew little about her father and was even unable to picture how he looked.

"I lost my father when I was just three years old. How many memories could I possibly have? So my grandmother raised me instead, but now and then, a story she used to tell comes back to me. She would say that my father always carried me everywhere, holding me close and calling me cute nicknames."

But after more than 70 years, she was able to see his face.

While searching for an uncle who was also a soldier and had gone missing during the war, she had submitted a DNA sample.

Surprisingly, she heard back from the Defense Ministry's excavation and identification team that they had matched her sample, and her father's remains had been discovered.

"I felt this deep sense of gratitude. It felt like a miracle. Really tears just came. My heart ached, but it was full. I feel so fortunate to be able to bring him home like this and honor him. I can finally repay my parents."

Song was able to receive a restored version of her father's picture through the joint efforts of the National Remains Recovery Team and the National Forensic Service, making it the first completed case of face restoration from remains from the Korean War.

Using a CT scanner and 3-D modeling software, the National Forensic Service reconstructs the structure of the subject's face, layering on muscles, skin, and shaping the eyes, nose, and mouth.

"I had the privilege of taking part in a project that brings forgotten war heroes back to life to honor them. It gave me a deep sense of responsibility. And to help restore the image of who he was in life, we added the combat helmet and uniform that we would have worn at the time of his death."

The goal was to recreate not just a likeness, but a presence.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, and there are still so many like Song Young-hwan that remain missing or unidentified.

For many families of war veterans, it's the pain of not knowing that never fades, and through efforts like these, the return of these soldiers can become more than a historical footnote.

Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.