Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

All the soldiers with Dongmyeong Unit’s 21st Camp, who are on missions for the United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon(UNIFIL), were presented UN medals on December 11th(local time). 

The UN medal parade held on Tuesday under the supervision of Brigadier General Diodato Abagnara, commander of UNIFIL’s Sector West, was attended by 200 people, including Kim In-hwan, Republic of Korean Minister to Lebanon, UNIFIL and Lebanese troops and local officials.

The UN medal parade is a UN medal awarding event to praise and honor soldiers who successfully completed peacekeeping operations(PKO) over 90 days for their hard work. The event is the highest honor given to UN forces carrying out missions for regional peace and security. Of the 331 soldiers with the 21st Camp who attended the UN medal parade, 95 were soldiers who have been deployed to Lebanon more than two times, and received a number badge indicating the number of times they had been deployed. 

“The badge with the number 4 on my chest reminds me of my memories in Lebanon, and so I feel a heavier responsibility,” said Kim Ju-hwan, a master sergeant with the operation battalion who is on his fourth mission in Lebanon, of the seven times has been deployed overseas. “I will take the lead in this current deployment mission based on my many experiences in Lebanon.” 

The Dongmyeong Unit has earned respect from UNIFIL, being called ‘Best Unit for PKO,’ by carrying out thorough operations, including 36,000 surveillance and reconnaissance operations and 38,000 maneuver reconnaissance operations. In its work over 11 years in South Lebanon it has also carried out a range of civil operations, including 1,200 Taekwondo class trainees, 107,000 medical supporters and 980 students who completed Korean language class, helping to create an amicable operational environment. It also takes pride in being the unit deployed overseas the longest, with about 7000 soldiers having been presented with UN medals since its 1st Camp deployed in 2007.