Great-granddaughter of Korean Empire Army Captain Park Seung-hwan Commissioned as Second Lieutenant
On the afternoon of the 27th, the Army held the ‘81st Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony’ at the Korea Military Academy located in Nowon-gu, Seoul, presided over by Kim Seon-ho, Acting Minister of National Defense. The event was attended by over 2,000 guests, including graduates’ families and relatives, senior government and military officials, and foreign military attach?s.
On the morning of the 26th, cadets from the Korea Military Academy are marching in formation at the 75th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The 231 graduates of the 81st class of the Korea Military Academy (including 8 foreign cadets), who entered in 2021, cultivated the qualities and capabilities to become elite officers leading the future of the Army under the motto ‘Ji-In-Yong (Wisdom, Benevolence, Courage)’ over four years. Depending on their majors, the graduates earned dual degrees in Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Engineering along with a Bachelor of Military Science.
The Presidential Award was given to Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-il (22, Infantry), who achieved the highest academic record, and the Representative Hwarang Award was presented to Second Lieutenant Cheon Seong-ho (23, Infantry). Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-il stated, “Even as an officer, I will not lose the mindset of self-improvement through diligent effort,” adding, “I will devote my utmost passion and sincerity to become a beacon illuminating the future of our country’s defense.”
Beyond the awardees, the diverse stories of the new officers drew attention. Second Lieutenant Hong Ji-min (24, Personnel) is the great-granddaughter of Park Seung-hwan, a captain of the Korean Empire Army. Second Lieutenant Hong expressed her aspirations, saying, “Inheriting the noble spirit of my great-grandfather, I will dedicate myself to the nation and its people and contribute to the defense of the Republic of Korea,” and “As an officer, I will faithfully fulfill my duties and do my best to shine wherever I am.”
Twin sisters Second Lieutenants Song Jeong-min (23, Infantry) and Song Su-min (23, Infantry) enrolled together, supported each other throughout their four years as cadets, and were commissioned as Army second lieutenants. The elder sister, Second Lieutenant Song Jeong-min, said, “With the responsibility and sense of mission learned at the Korea Military Academy, I will become a strong soldier and a leading officer who sets an example.”
Meanwhile, the new officers are scheduled to receive training in the New Officer Command and Staff Course at their respective branch schools from March to June and will be assigned to field units by the end of June.
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