Selected as the Best Eye Guarding the Airspace: 'Air Defense Weapon Controller'

Lieutenant Junior Grade Lee Hyobok (left) and Captain Park Junyong (right), selected as the Best Air Defense Weapon Controller "Golden Eye" at the 42nd Air Combat Interception Control Competition

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] This year's Best Air Defense Weapon Controller has been named. The winners are Captain Park Jun-yong (promoted soon) in the Ground Control System category and Warrant Officer Lee Hyo-bok in the Air Control System category.

On the 2nd, the Air Force selected this year's recipients of the 'Golden Eye' award for the best air defense weapon controllers. In the team category, the 2nd Control Unit of the 7318th Air Defense Control Squadron was selected as the best unit and received the Presidential Award, while the 5th Control Unit of the 7328th Air Defense Control Squadron was recognized as an excellent unit and received the Ministry of National Defense Award.

Air defense weapon controllers perform the mission of guiding fighter jets scrambled in emergency to respond quickly and accurately to aircraft that violate airspace or enter the Air Defense Identification Zone without authorization, directing them to the optimal position.

Since May, the Air Force conducted academic and practical skill evaluations for over 80 controllers, selecting Captain Park and Warrant Officer Lee as the winners and awarding them the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award.

Captain Park said, "I was able to achieve good results thanks to my colleagues who prepared for the competition together even after working hours, as well as performing the mission to maintain the best possible air surveillance posture. Based on the knowledge and know-how learned through the competition, I will do my best to complete the mission."

Warrant Officer Lee, who has served as an aviation control specialist non-commissioned officer for over ten years, expressed, "I want to say sorry and thank you to my wife, who always encouraged me to stay strong while taking care of childcare and household chores. I will do my best to flawlessly complete the air defense mission so that the title 'Golden Eye' will not be a source of shame."