 It was officially activated at Naman in February 1948 under Major General Kang Kon with a total strength of 14,000 soldiers.The Division's artillery and other elements assembled near the 38th parallel on 12 June 1950 and went into battle for the first time during the fighting around Chunchon on 26–27 June, where the artillery units were badly mauled by accurate counter-battery fire from artillery units of the Republic of Korea.During August and September, the Division fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter before heavy losses forced it to be re-organised in November at Kanggye.