Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[Hanbit unit] “Head for South Sudan to plant peace and hope”

A farewell ceremony for the 7th Hanbit unit who will carry out UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) in South Sudan (Africa) was held by the International Peace Supporting Standby Force based in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, on October 25.

280 troops being dispatched, including Colonel Ahn Deok-sang, chief of the dispatch preparation group and 900 family members and military officials attended the ceremony held by Lieutenant General Jang Kyung-seok, commander, army special operations command.

South Sudan where soldiers of the 7th Hanbit unit will carry out an 8-month mission is a center of international attention as the international UN Security Council has decided to dispatch an additional 4,000 troops with its intensified civil war.

The soldiers of the 7th unit selected after passing competition of 4.2 to 1 on average have had to master various tasks necessary for local mission completion, including situational tactical training, functional special qualification training and civil-military operations, understanding of African culture and learning the language, etc. in a training process that has taken more than 8 weeks since the organizing ceremony on September 5.

They assumed 9 types of situational models in the face of military and non-military threats which can happen during missions, and repeatedly mastered the situational training exercise so that they can effectively respond to any situations, securing safety under any circumstances.

Significantly, the 7th unit’s soldiers are planning to restore the trans-highway connecting Bor area, the unit’s post, and 200 kilometers east, Pibor area, during their dispatching period, and are expecting to contribute greatly to reconstruction of the infrastructure, economic stimulation and social unification of South Sudan.

As well, the unit will also open the market in the Hanbit farm being operated to improve local residents’ quality of life, and create a Saemaeul movement memorial park to build up the will to succeed and self-confidence of the South Sudanese people.

The 7th unit includes Major Cho Jung-hwan, the chief guard who is following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father who joined the Vietnam war, Sergeant Major Jeon Jung-ho, who has been dispatched 4th times since Iraq (once) and Lebanon (twice), Staff Sergeant Park Jung-hyun, one of the first dispatched brothers of the Hanbit unit, and Sergeant First Class Lee Se-hee, driving officer of heavy equipment transporter, operating the support unit, who has 26 licenses in related areas such as excavator, forklift, etc.

Chief of the Preparation Group Ahn said, “All the soldiers of the 7th unit have prepared for this dispatch at the best level for the last eight weeks. As representatives of the Korean Army, we will do our best to complete the mission of planting peace in South Sudan, and enhancing the status and reputation of Korea.”

They will depart to South Sudan by charter flight on upcoming October 31 and in the middle of November after the farewell ceremony.

Meanwhile, The Korea Defense Daily will be accompanying the 1st discharged soldiers from the 7th unit from departure to arrival at the local area to report on their action state in detail.

By Seok-Jong, Lee < seokjong@dema.mil.kr >
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