Gov’t awards meritorious military service families

Gov’t awards meritorious military service families. May. 28, 2016 07:43. by 윤상호군사전문기자ysh1005@donga.com . The government has selected the family of Lee Soon-deuk, 89, for having 16 of its family members serving in the military for this year’s presidential award for military service.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said Friday that Lee suffered a penetrating wound in his arm and leg while fighting in a fierce battle of the 1950-1953 Korean War. Lee refused to get discharged for his disabilities several times but had to leave the military because of an order from the superior authorities, the ministry said. His six sons and nine grandsons have also finished their active duty service. All combined, Lee’s family served for a total of 596 months.

The ministry selected 560 families for meritorious military service after screening 690 families across the country. Then, the ministry picked 20 finalist families for an award ceremony in downtown Seoul on Friday. After the ceremony, they had a tour of the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae on the invitation by Kim Kwan-jin, head of the presidential Office of National Security.

The family of Lee Joon-sang, 74, from eastern Seoul received the second-highest honor. He served in the military as a medical officer during the Vietnam War. His father joined the Korean War as a military lawyer, while his son and other family members fulfilled their military duty, the ministry said.