Jo Hyun Jae

This is a Korean video (probably released by the military) and the commentary and subtitles are in Japanese.  You either watch it like a silent movie or you’ll have to trust our interpretation (educated guess.)

This video is the final segment of the 3-video series on the Korean soldier.  (First 2 videos are in 2010.4.8 post “The Korean soldier (1)”.)  It starts with new recruits graduating after the 5 weeks of basic military training.  The graduation ceremony in the hall is formal and solemn.  They salute, and salute again.  They sing the national anthem of South Korea.  They get their stripes (ONE stripe for Private Second Class.)  They throw their caps in the air (just like university graduates at outdoor ceremonies.)

Those new PSC interviewed all say it is blood, sweat, and tears.  Training is very hard – great physical exertion and mental strain.  One mentions the blisters on his feet after trekking in those army boots and how his superior tends to them.  Another talks about the night trek which is an unforgettable experience.  But they all say it is worth it as they learn responsibility and duty to their country.

The next day they are sent off to different camps all over the country.  The real tests and trials are yet to come.  The final scenes show part of the training regimen.  Fighting!

This video gives you an idea of what Jo Hyun-Jae has gone through.  You can visualize him among the graduating class of PSC on September 10, 2008.  Did you notice the soldiers only have one rucksack when they are sent off to their respective camps?  Where does JHJ keep his fan mail?

When we were in Busan recently, we saw some soldiers on leave.  First thing we looked at was: how many stripes on his uniform’s sleeve?  We now know: ONE stripe = Private Second Class; TWO stripes = Private First Class; THREE stripes = Corporal; FOUR stripes = Sergeant.  Our JHJ is 4 stripes!

(Credit: http://club.brokore.com/sodonyo; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)