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Family has parachute training together

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Army Brig. Gen. Yoo Hae-il, right, Lt. Col. Hong Young-mi, left, and their son, Private Yoo Joon-hyuk, pose for a photo before attending parachute training together, Monday. / Courtesy of Army

By Jun Ji-hye

A father, a mother and a son, who are an Army brigadier general, a lieutenant colonel and a private, went through parachute training together on Monday.

According to the Army, Brig. Gen. Yoo Hae-il, 53, Lt. Col. Hong Young-mi, 52, and Private Yoo Joon-hyuk, 21, jumped together from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at altitudes of 1,800 to 2,000 feet.

The Army said their jump was successful, adding that it was the first time that both parents and their son attended parachute training together. Before this, only a father and son, or a father and daughter made parachute jumps together.

It was Hong who asked her husband and son to jump together as she wanted a special event to mark her discharge scheduled for next month after serving 30 years in the military.

Hong underwent the parachute course seven years ago when serving at the Special Warfare Command as a press officer.

Her husband, Yoo, fully agreed with Hong as he also went through the parachute training when he was going to the Korea Military Academy.

They decided to jump together on Monday because their son, who is currently serving at the Special Warfare Command, was scheduled to undertake his first parachute jump on that day.

The 21-year-old could not apply for the command last year as his weight was over 100 kilograms. He lost 20 kilograms by dieting and exercising for a year and joined the command last month.

“It is a pleasure and honor for me to attend parachute training with my parents,” the 21-year-old said. “I will work to embody strong military spirit during my service as my parents are soldiers.”

Hong said, “Serving at the Special Warfare Command was the most memorable assignment during my military career. I am really grateful to the military for allowing me and my family to attend parachute training together.”