Seeing hope in the military inspired by spirit of Kang Jae-ku

A Sergeant surnamed Lim (aged 23) was sentenced to death on Tuesday, the maximum penalty allowed by the local law, for killing five comrades and injuring seven colleagues by a shooting spree and a grenade explosion at the General Outpost (GOP) in the army division 22. When this killing incident by Sergeant Lim and Private Yoon’s death by bullying in barracks were made public last year, the military launched a special committee to reform culture in the military camp and started efforts to transform the culture of barracks, saying, “This is the last opportunity.” However, a series of sexual scandals and defense industry corruption involving army generals and high-level commanders have come to light, tainting the reputation of the Korean military to the lowest point possible.

In the midst of such bad news surrounding the military, it is glad to hear an impressive story that shows a commander’s courage and sense of responsibility. In an army boot camp, a private lost his grip of a hand grenade by mistake and a platoon leader standing close threw his body and saved the private. At a boot camp of the army regiment 29 in Nonsan, Chungcheong province, Master Sergeant Kim Hyeon-soo (aged 32) entered a grenade throwing pit for training with Private Song. There was a separation wall at the height of 60 centimeters between Song and Kim, the platoon leader. Private Song threw a grenade to the front, but the grenade fell and rolled down to the pit on the side of Master Sergeant Kim. At that moment, Kim jumped over the separation wall reflexively and dragged Private Song, 180cm in height and 75kg in weight, out of the grenade throwing pit and covered Song with his own body. The grenade exploded almost simultaneously when the platoon leader’s courageous act saved lives of the two.

The act reminds us of Major Kang Dae-ku, who saved troop members’ lives by covering up a grenade dropped by a private with his body and died gloriously 50 years ago. It was on Oct. 4 in 1965, when White Tiger Corps. Members were throwing grenades in exercise before joining the Vietnam War. A private carelessly dropped a hand grenade and Major Kang sacrificed his life like a martyr by covering the grenade with his body before explosion and saved other soldiers. Master Sergeant Kim said, “I always watch grenades held by hands of trainees. I saw (the grenade falling) out of the private’s hand and acted as I have been trained.”

A hand grenade explodes only a few seconds later after it is detonated. If Kim does not have a strong sense of sacrifice, the master sergeant would have tried to save his own life. Master Sergeant Kim’s humble attitude to say, “I did what I’ve been trained,” is notable and praiseworthy. Thanks to the majority of soldiers like Kim who are defending our nation without complaining, the public can enjoy everyday lives in peace. When service people like Master Sergeant Kim take roots across the entire military organizations, there will be no occasion for the public to worry about the national security.