Dosol Mountain Marine Corps Battle Site

The Dosol Mountain area is a rugged mountainous region with an elevation of 1,148m surrounding the Haean Basin, featuring overlapping hills and abnormal weather conditions throughout the year. In particular, the fog in summer makes it difficult to see even a step ahead. From June 4 to June 20, 1951, for 17 days, communist forces pressured the U.S. 2nd Division occupying the area to seize the high ground, and the U.S. forces failed to stop them and retreated. Replacing the U.S. forces, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps 1st Regiment under the command of Colonel Kim Dae-sik launched an attack on the Dosol Mountain area, but the North Korean counterattack was fierce, and the ROK forces, at a geographical disadvantage, engaged in a back-and-forth battle with support from UN artillery and air support. Eventually, on June 19, the ROK forces, centered on the Marine Corps, conducted a charge operation, and a night raid and hand-to-hand combat succeeded, leading to victory.<br /><br />Thus, from June 4 to July 20, for 50 days, the Marine Corps fought hard in the Dosol Mountain and Daeu Mountain areas, leading a large-scale mountain battle to victory, then handed over to the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Division 3rd Regiment and moved to Hongcheon, Gangwon Province on July 17. This battle earned the ROK Marine Corps the title "Invincible Marines." Later, the 4th tunnel was discovered on the northwestern ridge of this Haean Basin. Now, a Dosol Mountain Marine Corps Battle Monument has been erected on the summit of Dosol Mountain to commemorate the souls of those who died here. It is located north of the civilian control line, restricting general access, but the mountains of the Haean Basin area can be viewed. Gangwon Province, the Marine Corps Headquarters, and Yanggu County hold the Dosol Mountain Battle Cultural Festival annually around the anniversary of the occupation of Dosol Mountain, featuring pilgrimages to the Dosol Mountain Battle Monument and various events to comfort the spirits of patriotic martyrs.