Korea beefing up presence in PKO

A medic of the Hanbit Unit gives candy to children in the city of Bor, South Sudan in this photo, released by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sunday. The 282-member contingent for U.N. peacekeeping operations has been dispatched to the newly-independent African nation to aid reconstruction efforts. / Courtesy of JCS

By Kang Seung-woo

With the latest deployment of the “Hanbit” Unit to South Sudan, Korea is steadily becoming an active contributor to the United Nations’ efforts to achieve international peace and security.

The 282-member Army contingent for U.N. peacekeeping operations, established in January comprising mostly of engineers and some medics, has been dispatched to the newly-independent African nation to aid reconstruction efforts there.

They are currently working on expansion work at Bor Airport, maintenance activities in cities, construction of landfills along with medical services for people and animals.

“Overseas deployment of troops is emerging as stage to promoting each country beyond just assisting a state,” said Col. Ko Dong-jun, commanding officer of the Hanbit Unit.

“We need to actively participate in PKOs as do China and Japan in Africa.”

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Sunday, Korea, once a war-torn, impoverished country, has deployed approximately 40 thousand personnel to 18 operations in 10 countries since 1993, with 1,120 currently serving on PKO in five countries.

Korea’s participation in peacekeeping operations dates back to July 1993, when an engineering battalion, made up of 250 troops was dispatched to Somalia for the purpose of overseas reconstruction and humanitarian work.

An infantry battalion, the first combat unit ever deployed for PKO activities, carried out their missions in East Timor from 1999 to 2003, while about 350 Korean troops have been stationed in Lebanon since 2007 as part of the U.N. interim forces’ efforts to oversee a cease-fire and set up a buffer zone between Lebanon and Israel.

In addition, 190 peacekeeping troops took part in a U.N. peacekeeping mission in quake-stricken Haiti in 2010.

“For the last 20 years, Korea has actively executed peacekeeping missions in troubled regions,” said a JCS official.

“Despite a short history of PKO deployment, the nation’s participations have helped to promote international peace and heighten its status and reputation.”