Twin brothers respond to call of duty with ROK Navy

Sgt. Lee Dong-geun, left, and his twin brother Lee Tae-geun, right, pose with Republic of Korea Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Um Hyun-seong at a naval base in Heuksando, South Jeolla Province, on Feb. 1. / Courtesy of ROK Navy

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Three pairs of twins are fulfilling their duties to the country in the navy.

According to Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Lee Dong-geun and his twin brother Lee Tae-geun are serving at a naval base in Heuksando, South Jeolla Province.

They joined the Navy together in 2016, but were separated after boot camp training as Dong-geun was sent to one of the country’s southernmost islands while Tae-geun was first stationed in Busan, a big southeastern port city.

Tae-geun wished to serve together with his brother, and the Navy helped him realize his wish January last year, by transferring him to the Heuksando base.

They have since served together at the base as military police, and were nominated for the Navy’s model soldier award last year for their exemplary service to the country. ROKN Chief of Staff Admiral Um Hyun-seong visited the base earlier this month to award them.

Another twin pair Kim Won-hee and Kim Tae-hee are serving the navy in the country’s westernmost isles of Yeonpyeongdo and Woodo. Their bases were about 25 kilometers from each other, but the two whose duty is radar surveillance often check each other’s work.

“I sometimes see my brother’s identification code while on duty as he does the same job I do,” Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) Kim Won-hee said.

Both of the brothers graduated from Hongseong High School. The nation’s fallen hero Senior Chief Petty Officer Choi Han-kwon, who died with 45 seamen on duty in a 2010 North Korean torpedo attack, also graduated from the school.

Twin brothers PO3 Yeo Sang-min and PO2 Yeo Sang-hoon are also serving the navy at a base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province.

PO2 joined the Navy first and then recommended his brother to join.