Overview
The Battle of the Han River Defensive Line was a battle in which three South Korean divisions established defensive lines along the Han River from June 28 to July 4, during the early stages of the Korean War, to repel North Korean attacks. At that time, the 18th Infantry Regiment (Baekgol Unit), stationed in Samgakji, Seoul, deployed the 2nd and 3rd Battalions to the Dongducheon area when the Korean War broke out, while the 1st Battalion was stationed around Samgak. Then, in the early morning of June 28, the Han River pedestrian bridge was blown up, dispersing the command of the 1st Battalion. Lieutenant Kim Sang-deok, then commander of the 3rd Company, established positions in Samgakji and engaged in urban warfare. However, outnumbered, they moved to the Yeongdeungpo area, established positions along the Han River defensive line, and engaged in battle. Despite poor equipment and manpower, the 18th Infantry Regiment engaged the North Korean army in close combat 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 U.S. ground forces to join the fight, laying the groundwork for a counterattack. To honor the sacrifices and contributions of Baekgol Unit soldiers, more than 50 years later, on October 1, 2003, the Baekgol Comrades Association erected this monument within Yanghwa Inkong Waterfall Park. However, with the construction of the World Cup Bridge, in June 2020, it was relocated to this site, where Baekgol Unit soldiers had defended the site during the Korean War.