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The faces of veterans who dedicated themselves to the nation are among those we should remember on Memorial Day, observed on June 6 in Korea. Yet many of these individuals, especially in their younger years, remain in our memories only through faded black-and-white photographs.

A research team at a university has been working to restore these images using artificial intelligence, transforming them into high-resolution color portraits. Veterans and bereaved families who received the restored photographs shared the memories and emotions they brought back.

As the season grows greener and dreams flourish on a university campus, a special exhibition has been drawing attention.

Displayed are vividly restored color portraits of Korean War veterans who headed to the battlefield more than 70 years ago. Once faded and worn by time, their images now appear strikingly lifelike.

“Using AI technology, we worked on restoring old photographs of Korean War heroes. Most of these photos had deteriorated significantly over time, so we converted them into high-resolution images,” said Lee Eun-seok, Dean of the College of Computing at Sungkyunkwan University.

Each restored photograph carries the story of sacrifice and service that should never be forgotten.

The restoration project was carried out at the university’s AI research laboratory. The process consisted of four major stages.

“In the first and second stages, we used generative AI models to remove noise and reconstruct missing information. The third and fourth stages focused on enhancing image resolution and adding color step by step,” explained Son Geon-ho, a student in the Department of Software.

The team demonstrated the restoration process using a photograph of the late Lieutenant Colonel Jang Cheol-bu, a cavalry battalion commander who distinguished himself during the Korean War and later died in service.

The first step was denoising—identifying and removing spots, scratches, tears, and other damage from the image.

“As you can see, there are many areas affected by noise. AI restoration relies heavily on the quality of the initial cleanup process, so removing noise effectively at the beginning is very important,” said researcher Baek Seung-yeon.

The next stage involved enhancing facial details. Gradually, the once-blurred contours of the veteran’s expression became clearer.

“His eyes, nose, and every feature became remarkably sharp,” observers noted.

The team then proceeded to colorization. AI analyzed brightness, contrast, and shapes within the image to estimate skin tones, lip colors, and background colors.

“You can think of the model as predicting colors based on brightness and saturation levels. It estimates that a certain area is likely red, yellow, or another color and applies those predictions to the image,” Baek explained.

In total, more than 150 photographs were restored.

Among them were images of some of the most celebrated heroes of the Korean War, including General Kim Doo-man, the first Korean Air Force pilot to complete 100 combat sorties, and Colonel Kim Dong-seok, a legendary intelligence operative.

Professor Simon Woo Sung-il, who led the project, emphasized that historical verification was one of the most important aspects of AI restoration.

“Items such as uniforms and medals require careful verification and authentication. There are established historical standards, so after AI restoration, we still need to review and correct details to ensure accuracy,” he said.

The project also held personal significance for the professor. Through the work, he said, he realized AI’s potential to connect history and memory.

“We can reinterpret and restore historically significant images and videos and share them with the public. I hope this kind of application continues to expand in the future,” he said.

For many families, the restored photographs became an opportunity to see loved ones as they once were. For the student researchers who volunteered, the project became an unforgettable experience.

“One family member was only four years old when his father was killed in action. He is now 77 years old. When he saw the restored image, he thanked us and said it felt as though his father had come back to life. That was incredibly moving for all of us,” Baek recalled.

These veterans were not only soldiers who defended their country but also fathers, sons, and cherished family members.

One visitor who recently came to the laboratory brought with him a treasured family photograph—the only surviving image of his late father, Staff Sergeant Choi Shin-un, who served in the artillery of the 5th Division during the Korean War.

“My father passed away five years ago, and this is the only photograph of him from his military service. I wanted it restored so I could look at it whenever I think of him,” said Choi Seong-nam, head of the Bereaved Families Association under the Seoul branch of the Korean War Veterans Association.

The photograph carried not only the story of a veteran’s wartime experiences but also decades of longing preserved by his family.

“My father was called to serve just three months after getting married. He fought in the Nakdong River battles, the Battle of White Horse Hill, and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. During the Chosin Reservoir campaign, his platoon was surrounded by Chinese forces, and only two men, including my father, survived,” Choi said.

The restoration process then began.

As the AI removed damage and enhanced the image, warmth and color gradually returned to the face of the 19-year-old soldier who had gone to war for his country.

When the final photograph was printed and handed to him, Choi could hardly take his eyes off it.

It was the first time he had truly seen his father’s youthful face.

“I never had the chance to see my father when he was young. Looking at him now in color, I find myself thinking, ‘My father was very handsome when he was young.’ Thank you,” he said.

The photograph became more than a historical record—it became a recovered memory.

“I hope there will never be another war in the Republic of Korea that these young heroes protected. My father always said the same thing during his lifetime. I only wish for freedom and peace to endure forever for future generations,” Choi added.

Although the year-long restoration project, supported by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and other organizations, has officially concluded, the research team plans to continue the work using increasingly advanced AI technologies.

“We intend to keep updating the technology and securing funding so that this research can continue,” said Dean Lee.

The faces that once remained frozen in black-and-white photographs have returned to us with clarity and color. They remind us that these heroes were once young people like us—and that they willingly devoted the best years of their youth to defending their nation.

source(article, KBS): http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?nc...