Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Air Force awards 2 warrant officers as top air defense weapons controllers
Warrant Officer Kim Seong-wook / Courtesy of Air Force
By Nam Hyun-woo
The Korean Air Force on Wednesday honored two Warrant Officers Kim Seong-wook and Kim Ju-hyeon as this year’s top air defense weapons controllers, commonly referred to as “Golden Eye.”
The Air Force held the awarding ceremony for the 2023 Air Combat Competition at Air Defense Control Command (ADCC) in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, ADCC Commander Park Chang-kyu presented the two officers each with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award for their performance.
Kim Seong-wook, from the 32nd Air Defense and Control Group of the 5th Control Division, won the honor in the ground control category, and Kim Ju-hyeon from the 51st Air Control Flight Group of the 2nd Control Division, excelled in the air control category.
The Air Combat Competition, held annually since 1980, aims to enhance the operational capabilities of mission personnel involved in air control duties. In three segments: air surveillance, identification and intercept control. This year’s participants were tested on their ability to monitor, identify and intercept aircraft approaching or entering Korean airspace, the military demarcation line, or Korea's Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without authorization.
For the best air defense weapons controllers in the segment of intercept control, the Air Force has been honoring them with the title of “Golden Eye,” comparable to the distinction of “Top Gun” for pilots.
The Air Force said ground category winner Kim, stationed at the 2nd Master Control and Reporting Center, showcased outstanding skills in analyzing virtual aircraft positions and movements, predicting infiltration routes and defending key facilities.
“I believe the airspace I see is the forefront, and even a short lapse in vigilance could create a hole in our defenses,” he said. “I will spare no efforts in monitoring our skies.”
Warrant Officer Kim Ju-hyeon / Courtesy of Air Force
In the air category, winner Kim Ju-hyeon, who is stationed at the E737 Airborne Early Warning & Control Peace, was praised for achievements in understanding and successfully attacking key enemy air defense networks during the competition. He has experienced controlled warning shots fired by Korean aircraft when Russian aircraft violated Korean airspace over Dokdo in the East Sea in 2019.
“I want to express gratitude to my wife who was pregnant during the competition period,” he said. “I will not be complacent about the Golden Eye title and stay committed to my duty, considering it is not just a personal achievement but a responsibility to my colleagues and family.”
During the award ceremony, Commander Park commended the participants for their strong camaraderie and teamwork.
“Our mission is not dictated by individual capabilities,” Park said. “It completes when individual skills are combined into teamwork.”
The competition featured 121 servicepersons in the qualifying rounds from March 27 to April 14, with 66 advancing to the final rounds held from June 2 to Oct. 23. The Air Force said this year’s competition raised the bar in the intercept control segment, intensifying the evaluation of participants’ ability to handle realistic combat scenarios involving virtual aircraft.