Battle of Kumyangjang-ni

Battle of Kumyangjang-ni
	Part of the Korean War
	; Brigadier Tahsin Yazıcı, commander of the Turkish Brigade (center) greets Lieutenant General Frank W. Milburn, commander of US I Corps, upon his arrival at Brigade Headquarters, Korea, to attend a Turkish celebration on July 6, 1951.
Date	25–26 January 1951
Location	Kumyangjang-ni, South Korea
Result	United Nations victory
Belligerents
United Nations Turkey; United States; South Korea;	China
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Tahsin Yazıcı	Unknown
Units involved
Turkish Brigade (attached to U.S. 8th Army)	Elements of Chinese 125th Division
Strength
5,000	~9,000
Casualties and losses
15 killed, 100 wounded	400+ killed

The Battle of Kumyangjang-ni (25–26 January 1951) was a significant engagement during the Korean War, fought between the Turkish Brigade attached to the U.S. 8th Army and elements of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army near the village of Kumyangjang-ni, South Korea. The battle was part of the United Nations (UN) counteroffensive that followed the Chinese New Year's campaign, marking one of the most successful actions by Turkish forces during the war.^[1]^[2]

Background

In early 1951, following a series of UN withdrawals caused by massive Chinese offensives, the Eighth United States Army began planning a counterattack to recapture key areas south of Seoul. The Turkish Brigade, commanded by Lt. Col. Tahsin Yazıcı, was assigned the mission to advance on Kumyangjang-ni, a village of tactical importance along routes used by Chinese forces.^[3]

The Battle

At dawn on 25 January 1951, Turkish troops launched an assault on Chinese defensive positions surrounding the village. Despite limited artillery support and harsh winter conditions, the brigade pressed forward through heavy resistance. The fighting was close and intense, often involving bayonet charges and house-to-house combat.^[1]

By nightfall, Turkish soldiers had seized control of Kumyangjang-ni. The following day, Chinese forces attempted several counterattacks, all of which were repelled with support from American armor and South Korean artillery. After two days of continuous fighting, the Chinese withdrew northward, leaving hundreds of casualties behind.^[2]

Aftermath

The victory at Kumyangjang-ni was hailed as one of the most decisive small-unit actions of the war. General Matthew Ridgway and UN commanders commended the Turkish Brigade for its bravery and determination. The Government of South Korea later awarded the unit the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.^[4]

The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of the Turkish contingent and strengthened the morale of UN forces as the tide of the war began to turn in their favor.

Legacy

The Battle of Kumyangjang-ni remains a symbol of Turkish–Korean friendship and military cooperation. A memorial monument stands at the site of the battle, and annual commemorations are held by veterans' associations from both nations.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b Appleman, Roy E. (1992). South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu (June–November 1950). U.S. Army Center of Military History. pp. 315–317.
^ ^a ^b Hermes, Walter G. (1990). Truce Tent and Fighting Front. U.S. Army Center of Military History. pp. 42–45.
^ Kore Harbi Hatıraları (Memories of the Korean War). Ankara: Turkish General Staff Archives. 1987. p. 88.
^ Korean War Commemorative Reports. Seoul: Republic of Korea Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. 2000. p. 210.
^ "Battle of Kumyangjang-ni Memorial". Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 2 November 2025.