Name: Choi Kyunghun Organization and Department: United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Republic of Korea Hanbit Unit (Korean Engineering Unit), 11th Rotation Position/Rank: Public Affairs and Information Soldier, Operations Support Company Application Route: ROK Army Peacekeeping Troops Selection Plan Service Period: May 13, 2019 – March 24, 2020
First, I want to express my gratitude to the members of the 11th rotation of the Hanbit Unit who shared a challenging deployment with me. We all endured hardships far from home, and I regret not being able to take better care of everyone. Because we were together, I could spend time more meaningfully and hold on. I also wish to thank the officials of the Republic of Korea Army who selected me as a peacekeeper, allowing me to serve my country in the unfamiliar land of South Sudan in Africa. Had I not been chosen for the Hanbit Unit, I would never have gained the precious and extraordinary experience of those nine months.
The countless experiences and the chance to meet people of different nationalities, positions, and cultures had a profound impact on me. Not only did my view of the world expand, but I also discovered new ways I could contribute to society. Becoming part of the United Nations was a momentous event in my life. I hope this account helps someone find a new dream during their military service, and supports anyone seeking a meaningful challenge while serving. Moreover, I hope more people become aware of the grim reality in South Sudan so that more helping hands can reach those in need.
The Republic of Korea Army regularly selects officers and enlisted soldiers nationwide to join the Hanbit Unit in South Sudan. Notices are posted on the military intranet. You can apply for positions that match your specialty, and the number of enlisted positions is much smaller. Once selected, your affiliation changes to the International Peace Support Group in Incheon, where you receive about two months of training. This includes fitness tests and basic instruction, as well as training in peacekeeping operations, the local environment, and your specialization. Because diseases such as malaria are prevalent in South Sudan, vaccinations are also administered.
After training, you complete necessary procedures such as obtaining an official passport and then head to South Sudan via the military airfield, usually transiting through Ethiopia. The journey is demanding, not only physically taxing but also scorching hot. After arriving at the base, there is a stabilization period of about a month. Working hours, observances, and days off all follow UN protocols. On days when we visited other countries’ contingents, we could closely experience new and diverse cultures. The Nepali festival of Dasain, celebrated at the Nepal Formed Police Unit (NFPU) camp, is an unforgettable memory.
Upon being selected as a peacekeeper, I received an overview of UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKO) and international organizations at the International Peace Support Group. International organizations were unfamiliar to me—I had only learned about them theoretically in my high school law and politics class. The UN’s foremost priorities are peace, security, and human rights, with the highest value placed on human rights. The UN consists of the General Assembly of 193 member states, the Security Council, the Secretariat, the International Court of Justice, and various councils. Because its work for global peace is broad, the international bodies under the UN umbrella are also diverse.
UNPKO requires at least the consent of the parties to the conflict. Peacekeeping operates under the basic principles of consent, impartiality, and the non-use of force. Key success factors include legitimacy, credibility, and strengthening ownership among the parties and local communities. Although the training was difficult, I learned a great deal and deepened my knowledge of international organizations. I learned that the right approach to UNPKO is “not one-sided support, but helping people realize the outcomes they want for themselves.” That belief only grew during my nine-month deployment and remains my guiding principle for what it means to help others.
Dazzling city skylines and the noisy tangle of cars—these are not sights you find in South Sudan, some 14,000 kilometers from Korea. Night brings pitch-black darkness, the roads are rough, and the small tactical vehicles that travel them shake violently. Slow or interrupted internet is common. Light, roads, and communications infrastructure we take for granted in Korea are not guaranteed here. Unlike Korea—divided North and South, yet in an armistice—South Sudan is organized along tribal lines, and danger can erupt at any time. This is where the ROK Hanbit Unit under UNMISS is stationed—in the world’s youngest country, South Sudan.
After decades of civil war, South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 9, 2011. In this land ravaged by prolonged conflict, people suffer from severe famine and disease. Because the country is organized by tribes rather than a binary division, disputes can easily arise without inter-tribal exchange and communication; if they escalate, they can lead to civil war. To help stabilize peace and support reconstruction, the UN established the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).