Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Commissioning ceremony held at School of Military Medicine for 794 of the 50th medical and 17th veterinary officers
96 officers engaged in medical support for COVID-19 from last month
3rd generation medical surgeon in the spotlight

784 medical and veterinary officers made the first step toward taking care of the health of our military personnel.

On April 24, the 50th medical and 17th veterinary officers commissioning ceremony was held at School of Military Medicine and conducted by the Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. 758 medical officers, which included 674 army surgeons, 74 dental surgeons, and 10 Oriental surgeons, and 36 veterinary officers became newly commissioned officers.

As a precautionary measure against COVID-19, the ceremony took place without family members and outsiders. Families had to settle for watching Military TV on Youtube and Facebook Live from the Defense Media Agency. At his congratulatory address, Minister Jeong said, "While the world has been experiencing total chaos and extreme difficulty due to COVID-19, we have been able to overcome this non-traditional security threat very transparently and stably thanks to our officers and men fulfilling their duties as the military for the people. Our preventive system has been recognized as a model by the international community, improving our status as a nation. But we cannot rest easy or lower our guard at this point in time. For a complete victory against COVID-19, our military's hard work is required once more."

"You, as commissioned medical officers, must carry out your duties faithfully with the firm resolution that you protect our people's lives and safety, no matter what the circumstances are, just like the slogan of your school says: 'We must save lives.' Please cherish each officer and man with your love and devotion, and comfort their sick bodies as well as wounded hearts so that we can preserve the best combat power," he added.

At the ceremony, Captain Son Ju-wan and Lieutenant Lim Dong-hwan were given the honorary Minister's prize. Another 12 officers, including Captain Park Kyeong-rin, were awarded prizes from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff, the Medical Commander, and the Medical Commandant.

Among newly-commissioned officers, there were many who were talked about, including Captain Noh Kyeong-hun, a third-generation medical surgeon and descendant of a Korean War veteran. By becoming a medical surgeon, he is following in the footsteps of both his grandfather, who was once an army surgeon during the Korean War, and his father, who was discharged as a naval surgeon.

Father of a lieutenant in the navy Ham Jeong-ho was discharged as a naval surgeon, and the lieutenant's grandfather is the late Admiral Ham Myeong-su, the 7th Navy Chief of Staff.

The siblings' of Captain Huh Yeong-woo and Lieutenant Kwon Sun-hwan also have been serving as medical surgeons at the 7th Division and 7th Airforce Communication Service Group, respectively.

The grandfather of Air Force Captain Jeon Kwang-su earned a medal for bravery for his merit during the Battle of White Horse. In addition to these men, 29 descendants of the Korean War veterans were commissioned on this day.

Out of them, 96 medical officers were engaged in providing medical support due to the COVID-19 pandemic all over the country from April 11 to 30. Minister Jeong rewarded them for their service, providing encouragement cards and commemorative watches on April 20.

 By Byeong-No, Yun <trylover@dema.mil.kr >
<Copyright ⓒ The Korea Defense Daily, All rights reserved>