한국전쟁 민간인 희생자 위령시설, 10년 만에 착공…2028년 준공

After a decade of delays, construction has begun on the nationwide "Vireung Site Facility" in Vireung County, which will serve as a resting place for the remains of South Korean civilians killed during the Korean War. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Division for Historical Affairs recently decided to commence work on the facility during November or December of this year.

The site, located in the Sannae Goryeong Peace Park, will consist of a 10,000-square-meter peace park, including a memorial site for the remains, exhibition spaces, and green areas. The project is estimated to cost around 605 billion won, with the final committal scheduled for August 2028. The site's location was chosen due to its historical significance as the site where government forces took detainees from the construction site of the Daehyang Munitions Plant and detained leftist civilians, resulting in an estimated 3,000 to 7,000 deaths.

The estimated length of the mass grave is 1 km, earning it the nickname "the longest tomb in the world." The government originally planned to complete the facility in 2020, but slow progress on the project led to delays in archaeological excavation, land acquisition, and engineering design. Meanwhile, rising construction costs added approximately 200 billion won to the project, exceeding 500 billion won.

A review of the project's viability was conducted in 2024, but the Ministry of the Interior and Safety delayed the decision by one year, awaiting a change in design and the approval of additional project costs. The Ministry is expected to begin the bidding process for operators in October, with the facility opening in time for ceremonies honoring the fallen civilians.

In the meantime, 4,000 remains found across the country are temporarily stored in the Sejong Memorial Center, awaiting relocation to the Vireung Peace Park. Over the past decade, the site's residents have grown impatient with the delay, with members of the National Association of Vireung Massacre Victims expressing frustration at the government's failure to prioritize the project.