Gang Ho-bin and Ho-gyeom, Submarine Crew Brothers, "Protecting Territorial Waters Like Ironclad"

The Path of Navy Submarine Crew Following Their Captain

"The process of preparing for the submarine crew qualification evaluation is by no means easy, but I am truly proud of my younger brother who successfully passed the evaluation and has become a genuine submarine crew member."

Sergeant Kang Ho-bin, serving on the ROKS Shin Chae-ho, a submarine under the Republic of Korea Navy Submarine Command, said this on the 2nd after awarding the submarine insignia to his younger brother, Corporal Kang Ho-gyeom.

According to the Navy, Corporal Kang completed the basic submarine training course and passed the Submarine Qualification System (SQS).

At the awarding ceremony held on the ROKS Yi Eok-gi that day, he received the submarine insignia featuring a dolphin pattern symbolizing submarine crew members.

Sergeant Kang Ho-bin (left) of the Naval Submarine Command is pinning the submarine insignia on his younger brother, Corporal Kang Ho-gyeom, who passed the submarine crew qualification evaluation.
[Photo by Naval Submarine Command]

The brothers grew up watching the life of their father, Jang Gyu-chan, who retired as a Navy Sergeant First Class, and admired the Navy lifestyle, leading them to commission as Navy non-commissioned officers.

The elder brother, Sergeant Kang, commissioned as an armed Navy non-commissioned officer in 2016, applied to become a submarine crew member in 2019, completed the 34th basic training course that year, and has been on the path of a submarine crew member since.

The younger brother, Corporal Kang, commissioned as a Navy information and communications non-commissioned officer in 2021, five years later, and served on the ROKS Jeju of the 2nd Fleet Command.

While listening to advice and stories about Navy life and submarine crew duties from his elder brother, who was serving on the ROKS Yun Bong-gil at the time, Corporal Kang applied to become a submarine crew member in 2022, completed the 37th basic training course, and was assigned to the ROKS Yi Eok-gi in November of the same year.

Corporal Kang said, "When I said I was applying to become a submarine crew member, my brother told me that although there would be many hardships and adversities, the submarine unit is a place where I can overcome them and create the future I dream of. I will become an elite submarine crew member who is never ashamed of the insignia worn on the left chest and firmly protect the seas of the Republic of Korea together with my brother."

Sergeant Kang said, "With pride in serving as members of the national strategic forces, my brother and I will steadfastly guard the territorial waters of the Republic of Korea."