The Path of an Army Officer Chosen by the Descendant of an Independence Activist

New Commissioned Officers and Senior NCOs... Third-Generation Military Families Also Included

From descendants of independence activists and war veterans to three generations of military families, newly commissioned officers who will lead the forefront of the Army in the future were commissioned as second lieutenants.

Second Lieutenant Kim Gi-rok (Bachelor Officer Candidate), recipient of the Presidential Award

On the 23rd, the Army held a joint commissioning ceremony for 402 officers, including the 68th class of bachelor's degree officers and the 44th class of non-commissioned officers, at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan, Chungbuk, presided over by Army Chief of Staff General Park Jeong-hwan. They were commissioned as Army second lieutenants after completing 14 to 16 weeks (14 weeks for non-commissioned officers, 16 weeks for bachelor's degree officers) of training courses including tactics, combat skills, and military science, as well as a comprehensive commissioning evaluation.

Among the newly commissioned officers, Second Lieutenant Kim Jin-seo's great-grandfather, Kim Do-gil, was an independence activist from Chilgok-gun, Gyeongbuk during the Japanese colonial period, who was arrested and imprisoned for participating in the March 1st Movement demonstrations. The grandfathers of Second Lieutenants Kim Seon-hyeong, Ahn Ji-seon, and Yoo Eun-sang are veterans of the Korean War, and Second Lieutenant Jang Hyun-jin's maternal grandfather is also a Korean War veteran. The grandfathers of identical twins Second Lieutenants Kim Yoon-jae and Kim Yoon-seo also served in the Korean War and were awarded the Hwarang Military Merit Medal. Second Lieutenants Son Bo-gyeong, Lee Jong-seok, Bae Hyo-eun, and Byeon Jae-ho are members of three-generation military families. Second Lieutenant Son Bo-gyeong's father is Son Sik, a Lieutenant General and Special Warfare Command Commander.

Second Lieutenants Lee Jun-hyeong and Bang Ju-seong renounced their citizenships of Australia and South Africa, respectively, to be commissioned as officers in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Additionally, Second Lieutenant Kim Seong-gyu, who served as a soldier and non-commissioned officer before commissioning, now holds three military service numbers.

At the commissioning ceremony, the Presidential Award was given to Second Lieutenant Kim Gi-rok (bachelor's degree officer), the Prime Minister's Award to Second Lieutenant Kim Chae-hwan (bachelor's degree officer), the Minister of National Defense Award to Second Lieutenant Choi Eun-chong (bachelor's degree officer) and Second Lieutenant Kim Ji-woo (non-commissioned officer), and the Army Chief of Staff Award to Second Lieutenant Oh Jin-hee (bachelor's degree officer) and Second Lieutenant Jo Woo-bin (non-commissioned officer).

Second Lieutenant Kim Gi-rok said, "I am honored to receive such a great award along with the joy of commissioning," and added, "As a strong and proud Army officer, I will do my best in fulfilling the given duties and roles."