By Kang Seung-woo
The military held a ceremony Tuesday to commemorate the completion of a relief and restoration mission in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines.
The Araw Unit, comprised of more than 500 troops from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, was launched in Dec. 9 of last year following the Southeast Asian country's request for the dispatch of engineers and medical units. They returned to Korea Monday.
“On behalf of the nation’s armed forces, the Araw Unit did its duty to console and help despairing Filipinos,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Yo-han said in a welcoming speech during the ceremony at the Special Warfare Command in Seoul.
“I believe that the troops’ full commitment and invincible military spirit will become the cornerstone of an advanced and strong military.”
According to the ROK Army, the unit reconstructed or repaired 66 facilities, including 37 schools, eight hospitals and 17 government offices.
In addition, the troops provided medical treatment to more than 41,000 residents, while fumigating some 250 areas.
They also offered Korean language programs and organized a K-Pop dance competition and basketball tournament.
In November, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan lashed the Philippines, leaving more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displacing more than 4 million.
The dispatch marked the 17th overseas troop deployment for Korea since the nation joined the United Nations in 1991.
The expedition also was the first time that troops were sent to a disaster area as opposed to a war zone, and the second time that the Korean government provided military aid upon the request of a sovereign nation following the dispatch of its Akh Unit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January 2011.
The Akh Unit ― meaning “brother” in Arabic ― has been based in the eastern region of Al Ain to help train the Middle East nation’s special operations forces and protect Korean nationals under emergency circumstances.
The Araw dispatch was a part of the nation’s obligation to the Philippines’ sacrifice during the Korean War.
During the three-year conflict from 1950-53, the Philippines sent more than 7,400 soldiers to fight here with 112 killed and 57 missing.
“I am glad to complete the mission in the Philippines,” said Army Col. Lee Chul-won, commander of the Araw Unit.
“I thank people for supporting our duties, aimed at repaying the Philippines’ commitment to the Korean War.”