The Baekdusan (PC-701), the first combat ship of the Navy, will meet visitors in a large model form, having sunk a North Korean transport ship carrying over 600 troops on the first night of the Korean War.
The Navy and the War Memorial Association will hold a reopening ceremony for the exhibition 'Records of the First Three Days of the Korean War' at 2 p.m. on November 11 at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. The exhibition has been revamped to highlight the contributions of the Army, Navy, and Air Force during the early days of the war.
At the center of the exhibition is a model of the Baekdusan, created at one-seventh of its actual size. A video depicting the ship's journey from New York in December 1949 to its arrival in Korea in April 1950, along with scenes from the naval battle, will also be screened. The model and video were funded by the Navy, with historical accuracy ensured by a civilian advisory group.
On the night of June 25, 1950, the Baekdusan discovered a 1,000-ton North Korean armed transport ship off the coast of Busan and sank it the following dawn. This battle is recorded as the Navy's first victory in the 'Battle of the Korea Strait.' The engagement halted the North Korean forces' infiltration into the rear of Busan, which subsequently became a vital supply route for UN forces. During this confrontation, Sergeant Jeon Byeong-ik and Corporal Kim Chang-hak lost their lives due to enemy fire.
The process of acquiring the ship also has a story. Sailors contributed part of their salaries, while officers' and non-commissioned officers' wives raised funds through sewing and bazaars, gathering $15,000 in just four months. With additional government support, they purchased a used ship from the U.S. for $18,000.
After about two months of repairs, this vessel was reborn as Korea's first combat ship, named 'Baekdusan' (Pak Tu San, PC-701) to symbolize the protection of the nation's sacred mountain and the defense of the country. The Baekdusan arrived in Korea just two months before the outbreak of the Korean War, equipped with a 3-inch gun from Hawaii and ammunition from Guam.
The Baekdusan was decommissioned in July 1959. It now remains at the Naval Academy, having been designated a national registered cultural heritage in 2010.
Attendees at the reopening ceremony will tour the newly renovated exhibition hall following speeches and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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