Operation for Liberating Seoul

This operation was performed by the combined units of the Korean People’s Army to liberate Seoul during the first operations in the first stage of the Fatherland Liberation War.

Instigated by the US imperialists, the Syngman Rhee puppet army launched an all-out armed invasion of the DPRK on June 25, 1950 and intruded deep into the north across the 38th parallel.

The KPA units went over to a counteroffensive while destroying and containing the enemy. They liberated vast areas in the southern half of Korea, including the Yonan peninsula, Paechon, Ongjin, Kaesong and Uijongbu, in two days after commencing the operation. Dumbfounded by the KPA’s counterattack, the US imperialists deployed the forces of fleeing divisions (2nd, 7th and metropolitan) of the south Korean army plus more aircrafts and warships into the front and put up a strong resistance in the Munsan-Seoul and Uijongbu-Seoul roads by mobilizing a unit directly under the puppet Army Headquarters, cadets of military academies and police forces in an attempt to defend Seoul.

Seeing through the enemy’s attempt Supreme Commander Kim Il Sung ordered the KPA combined units on the front line to speed up the offensive and, at the same time, the combined units in the direction of main attack to liberate Seoul as soon as possible before the enemy reinforce its defence line, split the puppet forces in the areas north of the Han River in two and wipe them out separately, cross the river and build a base on the other side of the river.

He set the morning of June 28 for zero hour to liberate Seoul, for fear that if a battle was waged at night, it would inflict serious damage on the lives and properties of the Seoul citizens and wreak havoc on precious cultural heritage in the city.

On June 27 the combined units in the direction of main attack destroyed the opposing enemy on the Tobong and Puram mountains and occupied the areas around Hwagyedong and Mt Ponghwa.

A small unit of five tanks, including Tank 312, and a mechanized infantry subunit acted in concert, killing a large number of enemy troops and plunging them into chaos.

The 9th Tank Brigade which broke into the area of Tongdaemun routed the opposing enemy and occupied major objects. In cooperation with the 3rd Infantry Division, it mowed down the enemy in and around Chongryangri and liberated the areas east and south of Seoul.

Meanwhile, the 4th Infantry Division went over to an offensive to wipe out the enemy in downtown Seoul.

The main strike force annihilated the enemy soldiers who were putting up desperate resistance relying on high-rise buildings.

As a result, the defence line around Seoul, which was made up of six puppet divisions, including the metropolitan division and the military police, was demolished and such major institutions of the enemy as Capitol Building, Broadcasting Station, Sodaemun Prison, Mapho Jail, Army Headquarters, Provost Marshal Headquarters, Telegraphic Office and Military Police Office came under the control of the KPA. The flag of the DPRK fluttered in the wind on the roof of the Capitol Building. At 11:30 on June 28 Seoul was completely liberated.

During the operation to liberate Seoul over 21 000 enemies were killed, wounded or captured and a variety of guns, small arms, tanks, trucks, planes and many other combat equipment were destroyed or captured.

Kim Il Sung took measures to confer the title of Seoul 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions respectively on the 3rd and 4th infantry divisions which performed heroic exploits in the operation, and promote the 9th Tank Brigade to a division and call it the Seoul 105th Tank Division.