[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] 6,400 Isolated Military Personnel... Training Adjustments Possible

On the 21st, as the Our Republican Party, based in Daegu, planned to hold a nationwide key party officials meeting at the National Assembly, a National Assembly staff member checked for fever symptoms using a thermal camera at the entrance of the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The military has recently identified a total of six confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Through a full survey of visitors and contacts in the Daegu, Yeongcheon, and Cheongdo areas, approximately 6,400 people were identified, and all of them have been placed under preventive quarantine measures.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 23rd, as of noon that day, there are a total of six confirmed COVID-19 cases in the military: four in the Army, one in the Navy, and one in the Air Force. Given the nature of the military’s communal living, there are concerns that if infections occur within the military, the situation could spiral out of control. In response, military authorities are strengthening preventive measures, including expanding the scope of quarantine.

The first confirmed case in the military was a corporal who visited Daegu while on leave from the Navy base in Jeju on the 20th. Subsequently, a captain from an Army unit in Jeungpyeong, Chungbuk, a first lieutenant from the Air Force Weather Group dispatched to Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, were confirmed positive, along with an Army corporal in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, an Army sergeant in Sokcho, Gangwon, and a civilian employee of the Army in Daegu.

The military is concerned about the increasing number of confirmed cases. As of 9 a.m. that day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached 556, an increase of 123 from the previous day. Considering this trend, there are concerns that there may be additional infected individuals in the military who have not yet been diagnosed.

The military has taken extraordinary measures. The Ministry of National Defense has restricted all soldiers’ leave, outings, overnight stays, and visits, especially focusing on the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions where COVID-19 cases have surged. All religious events in military units will be suspended until the situation improves. Military personnel and their families are also advised to refrain from attending civilian religious facilities outside the base.

The integrated commissioning ceremony for 117 Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units nationwide will be held as an internal event without family invitations, under the supervision of each ROTC commander. Graduation and commissioning ceremonies at each military academy will be conducted as internal events without family invitations, presided over by the Minister of National Defense. The Air Force Academy, which is currently implementing cadet quarantines due to confirmed COVID-19 cases, is considering postponing its commissioning ceremony.

The Navy has advised against visiting multi-use facilities such as bathhouses and movie theaters, as well as against drinking alcohol. Starting from the 24th, all personnel must wear masks at all times during working hours except when eating. Additionally, visits to areas with new COVID-19 cases, including Seoul Jung-gu and Naju in Jeonnam, as well as Gyeongbuk and Daegu, are prohibited. The Army and Air Force are also conducting investigations of visitors to Daegu and Gyeongbuk and implementing preventive quarantine measures.

A large-scale full survey has also been launched. Since the 10th of this month, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps have begun a comprehensive survey to identify the number of soldiers who took leave, outings, or overnight stays in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions. The reference date for the survey is the 10th, which is when patient number 31, related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church cluster infection, first showed fever symptoms.

With the increasing speed of confirmed cases among soldiers, there are forecasts that the scale and timing of the joint military exercises scheduled to begin on the 9th of next month will be finalized accordingly. On the morning of the 23rd, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo departed for the United States to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. It is expected that these issues will be discussed during the meeting.

During this meeting, South Korea and the U.S. will exchange views on various issues including the transition of wartime operational control, the defense cost-sharing for U.S. Forces Korea, the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), the performance improvement of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, and the general environmental impact assessment.