Hangang Defense White Bone Unit Monument

The Han River Defense Line Battle was a battle from June 28 to July 4 in the early stages of the Korean War, where three divisions of the Republic of Korea Army established a defense line along the Han River to block the North Korean army's attack. At that time, the 18th Infantry Regiment (White Bone Unit), stationed in Samgakji, Seoul, deployed its 2nd and 3rd battalions to the Dongducheon area and the 1st battalion to the Samgakji area when the Korean War broke out. However, when the Han River Bridge was blown up at dawn on June 28, the command structure of the 1st battalion was disrupted. At that time, 3rd Company Commander Lieutenant Kim Sang-deok established a position in Samgakji and fought a street battle. However, due to numerical inferiority, they moved to the Yeongdeungpo area, established positions on the Han River defense line, and conducted combat. Despite poor equipment and manpower, the 18th Infantry Regiment engaged in close combat with the North Korean army and defended Yeongdeungpo alone for seven days. The success of the Han River defense operation allowed the ROK Army to recover from early war damage, reorganize equipment and troops, and secure time for the U.S. ground forces to join the war, laying the foundation for a counterattack. To commemorate the sacrifice and contribution of the White Bone Unit soldiers, the White Bone Veterans Association erected this monument in Yanghwa Artificial Waterfall Park on October 1, 2003, over 50 years later. However, due to the construction of the World Cup Bridge, it was relocated in June 2020 to this site, which was defended by the White Bone Unit soldiers during the Korean War.

Address: Near Exit 2 of Yeouinaru Station, Yeouidong-ro 343 (Yeouido-dong), Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul