Defection. That’s the word that screams from the cold steel of this MIG-19 Fighter.
The MIG-19 Fighter before us represents more than just Soviet technology. It embodies a daring escape, a desperate yearning for freedom. This specific aircraft, displayed here in Seoul, holds a unique story within the context of the Korean War.
The MIG-19 was the Soviet Union’s first supersonic fighter jet. It was developed in September 1953. The Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau designed it. In the late 1950s, it was the main Soviet fighter jet. NATO called the MIG-19 Farmer.
The Soviets quickly replaced the MIG-19 with newer aircraft like the MIG-21. But China produced the jet under license. More than 2,800 were operated well into the 2000s. North Korea also operated 60 Chinese-made J6 variants.
This MIG-19 is especially well-known in Korea. It’s the aircraft flown by Captain Lee Woongpyung. He defected from the North Korean Air Force to the Republic of Korea.
On February 25, 1983, North Korea declared a state of war. This was in response to the Team Spirit war games of the US Forces in Korea. Captain Lee Woongpyung piloted a North Korean MIG-19. He had taken off from Gaecheon Airfield in Pyeongannamdo for rocket fire exercises. Suddenly, he broke from formation and flew south.
He crossed the Northern Limit Line above Yeonpyeongdo Island. Then he safely landed at Suwon Airbase.
Captain Lee was a graduate of the Gimchaek Air Force Academy. He was a member of the North Korean elite. His defection reminded the Korean people of the value of liberal democracy. He left behind a successful career with good prospects.
Three months later, Captain Lee was commissioned as a Major in the Republic of Korea Air Force. He enhanced South Korea’s Air Force capabilities. He trained Korean pilots on North Korean air tactics. Also he produced a variety of research output.
Another North Korean pilot, Captain Lee Chul Soo, defected in a MIG-19. This happened in 1996. Confronted with South Korean jet interceptors, Lee waggled his plane’s wings. He lowered the landing gear to signal his intention to surrender. After landing at Suwon military airport south of Seoul, his first request was for a glass of whiskey.
The incursion caused the South Korean military to order an air raid warning in Seoul. It was the first time in 13 years.
The MIG-19 stands as a silent testament to the courage. It represents the desire for a better life. Its presence here serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom on the Korean peninsula.