Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[3rd Army Division] “Read a book at every GOP”

Opened the 18th book cafe on April 9, with continued donation from 15 companies and organizations like Sebong, Inc.

The 3rd Army Division opened its 15th to 18th ‘Book Cafe of Love’ one after the other at 4 GOPs on April 8 and 9, and now all the GOPs have book cafes, a first in army history.

It has been a year since the first ‘Book Cafe of Love’ was set up at GOPs in April of 2015, to enrich the emotional lives of soldiers and reform military cultures.

The 3rd Army Division was able to establish book cafes at all the GOPs in such a short time because companies and organizations like Sebong Inc., etc, donated ‘Book Cafe of Love’ for White Skull unit soldiers who complete their mission to protect the country in the front line in the spirit of ‘fight until die and you will live, with strength from people united by flesh and blood.'

The ‘Book Cafe of Love’ is a container building where 10 soldiers can visit at the same time.

Soldiers can read or take time for self-improvement in a pleasant environment that includes desks, chairs, tables and around 700 donated books from the Korea Agency for Army Culture and Arts, book-sharing of love campaign headquarters, members of ‘Love for Son, Love for White Skull,’ a parents meeting of trainees of recruit training battalion and commanding officers of the Division, and others.

For the two GOPs where book cafes in a form of a container building were limited move due to their confined entry and installation space, the book cafes were set up by moving materials to the field and assembling the cafes.

The opening ceremony for the 18th ’Book Cafe of Love’, held on April 9, was attended by soldiers who will use the cafe most frequently, division commanders and chiefs of staff, as well as CEOs of donating companies to celebrate the opening, and the Division delivered appreciation plaques to the donating companies, including Sebong and others.

CEO of Sebong Oh Seung-hun, who persuaded the CEOs’ of cooperators to donate 14 book cafes to the Division said, “The habit of reading books has changed my life. I’ve donated Book Cafe of Love with my wish that soldiers can read lots of books in a pleasant environment and design their dreams and futures.”

Meanwhile, the 3rd Army Division plans to continue establishing ‘Book Cafe of Love’ at remote units, following the GOPs to make reading barracks.

By Seok-Jong, Lee < seokjong@dema.mil.kr >
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