Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
INTERVIEW 'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance
Kim Jong-wook, right, headquarters director of the Korea Defense Veterans Association, and Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division, speak during an interview with The Korea Times at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, March 20. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Bahk Eun-ji
From service to lifelong ties, links between soldiers continue beyond uniform
CAMP CASEY, Gyeonggi Province — Within the 2nd Infantry Division, service as a Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) is widely seen as more than just a supporting role. It provides a daily link between American and Korean soldiers and continues to shape relationships long after service ends.
Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, commanding general of the division, described KATUSA as an essential part of the unit.
“They are our secret sauce. They’re our superpower,” he told The Korea Times in an interview at Camp Casey, March 20. He noted that KATUSAs are embedded across the formation, working alongside U.S. soldiers at nearly every level.
“Think about the relationships that are strengthened beyond service. There’s a KATUSA with every squad," he said.
For Lombardo, their role extends beyond communication and administrative support. They are a defining element of how the combined division operates, helping build trust and cohesion between the two forces.
That impact often continues well beyond military service.
Kim Jong-wook, headquarters director of the Korea Defense Veterans Association and a former KATUSA, said his time with the 2nd Infantry Division was a turning point in his life.
“This actually changed my life,” Kim said, recalling his service. He later moved into international business, crediting his experience and exposure during his time in uniform as a key factor in his career path.
Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division, explains Lombardo Field at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, March 20. The field is named after his great uncle, 1st Lt. Thomas Lombardo, a U.S. Army officer who was killed in action during the Korean War in September 1950. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
After years of focusing on his career, Kim said he felt a responsibility to give back.
“That’s why I set up the Veterans Association in 2011,” he said, referring to the organization, aimed at strengthening ties between former service members and supporting the U.S.-Korea alliance.
The association works to maintain connections among former KATUSAs and U.S. service members who served in Korea, many of whom lose contact after returning home. Kim said the group organizes regular events and builds networks that bring together former officials, business leaders and veterans.
“We try to keep those connections alive,” he said. “That helps strengthen the alliance in a practical way.”
Lombardo also emphasized the importance of such efforts, noting that engagement beyond the base is crucial for sustaining the alliance.
“These organizations help our soldiers stay connected to Korea,” he said. “It helps them become more immersed.”
He added that building relationships with local communities through outreach programs and volunteer activities allows soldiers to better understand the country where they serve and reinforces broader partnership.
The perspectives of both a current division commander and a former KATUSA highlight how the program functions not only within the military but also as a long-term link between the two countries.
From daily base operations to relationships that continue after discharge, KATUSA service remains an active part of the alliance between Korea and the U.S.