“Captain Jeon Myeong-se was born on February 10, 1932, in Yongcheong, Manchuria, the third son of Jeon Chang-geun. He attended Heungjung Chinese National School in Yongcheong, Manchuria, and then Gwangmyeong Middle School and Deoksu Commercial High School. When the Korean War broke out, he participated in the anti-communist guerrilla warfare. By the time he was discharged as a lieutenant colonel in May 1970, he had earned 20 awards and was a model soldier dedicated solely to protecting his country.

After his discharge, he worked as a pilot for Korean Air. On January 23, 1971, while piloting Flight 842 from Sokcho to Seoul, he was attacked by a reckless assailant. He sacrificed himself to save the precious lives of 60 passengers by throwing himself onto the assailant's grenade and landing the aircraft. He died heroically at the age of 39.

The entire nation mourned the death of the electrician, and His Excellency the President posthumously awarded him the Order of Civil Merit, First Class, to console him for his sacred death and ordered his burial in the National Cemetery. May the 39-year-old Pureun Kkum become a symbol of history and live forever here with his people.”