[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] 7 Military Confirmed Cases and 6,400 Isolated Personnel (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The military has recently identified a total of seven confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Through a full investigation of visitors to the Daegu, Yeongcheon, and Cheongdo areas, approximately 6,400 individuals who visited or had contact were identified, and all of them have been placed under preventive quarantine measures.

According to the Ministry of National Defense as of 6 p.m. on the 23rd, there are seven confirmed COVID-19 cases within the military: four in the Army, one in the Navy, one in the Air Force, and one in the Marine Corps. Due to the nature of communal living in the military, there is concern 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 returned on leave from Daegu to 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 Unit dispatched to Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, a corporal from the Army in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, a sergeant from the Army in Sokcho, Gangwon, and a civilian employee of the Army in Daegu were also confirmed positive.

The military is particularly concerned about the increasing number of confirmed cases. As of 9 a.m. on the same 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 within the military who have not yet been diagnosed.

The military has taken extraordinary measures. The Ministry of National Defense has restricted all soldiers’ leaves, outings, overnight stays, and visits, especially focusing on the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions where COVID-19 cases have surged. All religious events within 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 military academies will be conducted by the Minister of National Defense but will also be held internally without family invitations. The commissioning ceremony at the Air Force Academy, which is currently implementing cadet quarantines due to confirmed COVID-19 cases visiting recently, is under consideration for postponement.

The Navy has advised against visiting crowded facilities such as bathhouses and movie theaters and discourages alcohol consumption. 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’s Jung-gu and Naju in Jeonnam, as well as Gyeongbuk and Daegu, are prohibited. The Army and Air Force are also conducting investigations of personnel who visited Daegu and Gyeongbuk and are implementing preventive quarantine measures.

A large-scale full investigation 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 personnel who took leave, outings, or overnight stays in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions. The reference date for the investigation is the 10th, the day 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 expectations that the scale and timing of the joint military exercises scheduled to begin on the 9th of next month will be finalized after further adjustments. 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. These issues may be discussed during the meeting.

Additionally, through 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 THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, and the general environmental impact assessment.