ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2531 5 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (Ⅸ CORPS LDI - 0140) 6 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | CHO, Mun Il (曹万鎰) (SK) |
| AGE: | 25 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt |
| DUTY: | Administration Officer |
| UNIT: | CHONJU Replacement Trng Cntr |
| DATE AND PLACE CAPTURED: | MUNGYONG 25 Oct 50 |
| CIVIL OCCUPATION: | Factory Worker |
| EDUCATION: | 8 yrs |
PW answered questions very willingly because he was conscripted into the North Korean Army against his will. Information is fairly reliable. He is not recommended for further interrogation.
3. OWN ORGANIZATION:PW was inducted into the service on 10 Aug 50, as a member of the Volunteer Army, at CHONJU. PW was drafted along with 190 men. He stated that a large number of South, Koreans were drafted into the North Korean Army from the vicinity of CHONJU numbering around 4,500 during the period 5 Aug to 25 Sep 50. 10 Aug PW was then assigned to the 1st Co of the CHONJU Replacement Training Center. The Center was situated in the former CHONJU Girls Teacher School ( ).
After being assigned the company was sent to UCHON MYON approx 4 kms W of CHONJU where he spent a week receiving basic training. Again the Company moved to YONGJIN MYON (CQ3572) o/a 17 Aug The approx 4 kms E of CHONJU to the former YONGJIN Primary School. The Co received 4 days basic training there and moved to SAMNYE RI (CQ2675). PW stayed here for approx 8 days receiving training and working in the Provision Section as a manager. The Co then moved to CHOPO MYON (CQ3372) and stayed there for 3 days taking training with the PW still on the same job. The Co then moved to OSONG NI (CQ3267), at which time he was promoted to Master Serge ant and stayed here for four days taking care of his company. The PW and 12 others (men with education) from his company were transferred to the CHONJU Replacement Training Center. The rest of the company joined them three days later. After being processed they were assigned to various infantry units. PW immediately upon arriving at this replacement training center was appointed Recruiting Officer and was commissioned a week later as Jr Lt. He stayed in this capacity until 25 Sep 50. He stated that the strength of this unit at that time was approx 783 men, since most of the men were sent to various infantry combat units a month after arriving. 25 Sep 740 of the men were sent to these infantry units. Later that same night the remaining men including PW were ordered to leave for N Korea. PW and the 43 men proceeded N passing through SAMNYRE RI, YOSAN (CQ2792), CHINSAN (CR5301), KUMSAN (CC6495), KUNBUNG MYON (CR6805) and arrived at SANGGONG NI (CR7201) o/a 29 Sep 50. The group stayed here for about a week, figuring out the safest route of escape knowing that the enemy was near. PW learned of the enemy troops from members of the 13 Regt, 6th Div who had observed the enemy in the mountains approx 3 kms E of SANGGONG NI. During this period 38 of the group escaped. PW did not know when they left. A week later the remaining five joined another group numbering approx 42 men and began their retreat. They passed through the following towns: KUMCH ON, OKS AN DONG (DR1715), BAEGAK SAN (CR9653), SONGNI SAN (CR9844) arriving at YONGAMNI (DR1050) on 25 Oct 50. Upon arrival PW and 10 of the group were left. These men then surrendered themselves.
4. PRESENT ENEMY GROUP:PW was the only one left of the 43 men in his group. The rest of the men deserted at SANGGONG NI and other places. Prior to departure from CHONJU PW did not have any weapon.
During the retreat while spending one week in SANGGONG NI he observed a steady stream of groups retreating. He observed these groups daily. Among the groups were the following:
| Date of Observation | Strength | Weapon | Hearsay-From | Hearsay-To | Hearsay-Unit |
| 30 Sep 50 | 500-600 | 150 PPsh SMG’s | CHIRISAN | IWNONNI | 6th Div, 15th Regt |
| 31 Sep 50 | 300 | 100 PPsh SMG’s 150 rifles | Unk | OKCHONNI | Unk |
| 1 Oct 50 | 400 | 20/30 PPsh 100 rifles | TAEGU-KUMSAN | OKCHONNI | 105th Regt, 9th Div |
| 2 Oct 50 | 600 | 1 HMG 100 PPsh SMG’s 250 rifles | TAEGU CHIRISAN CHONJU | CHUPUNG-RYONG NI | Home Ministry Guard Unit 6th, 7th, 9th Div |
| 3 Oct 50 | 300 | 40/50 PPsh SMG’s 20 Carbines 100 rifles 15 pistols | UNJANG | CHIRISAN | Home Ministry Guard Unit 104th, 105th Regt |
| 4 Oct 50 | 400 | 2 DPLMG 70 PPsh SMG’s M193 150 rifles | SUNCHANG CHIRISAN KWANGJU | ? | 6th, 7th, 9th Div 104th S.F. Regt |
Present locution of each group unknown to PW.
5. PRESENT ENEMY INTENTION AND/OR MISSION:The intentions of the groups PW observed on 30 and 31 Sep was to assemble at CHUNCHON. The rest were to retreat back to N Korea (Routes unk). PWs group (43 men) was to retreat bạck to CHUNCHON and assemble there.
PW heard that the group he observed on 3 Oct was planning to remain in S Korea to conduct guerrilla warfare if they were unable to retreat to N Korea.
6. PRESENT ENEMY SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT:During their retreat food was looted or confiscated in raids made on farmers. Small villages were special targets for such raids.
PW observed troops discarding their weapons (3 PPsh and Russ rifles) between PAEGAK SAN (CR9653) and TODONG NI (CQ8495). PW did not know of any cached arms.
7. PRESENT ENEMY METHODS:PWs group retreated during daylight marching in single file. They did not march at night when there was no moon. No advance patrols were used during these marches.
The only type of communication known to the PW was runner.
8. PERSONALITIES:Group Leader: CH’OE Su Sang (최수상) Sr Lt, 40 yrs.
CHONJU Repl Trng Cntr: SIN Kuk Hyu (신국휴) Capt, 36 yrs.
9. MORALE:The morale of PWs group was very low from the beginning since they were forced to serve in the NK Army. He also stated that they were continuously ordered around and made to do exhausting work.
For the AC of S, G-2:
YAMADA
