Military uniforms to display national flag

In a move to boost Korean soldiers’ sense of honor and duty, all military uniforms will display the Korean national flag within this year, the Ministry of Defense said Thursday.

“We came up with the measure to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence and to encourage military personnel to feel more pride about their service,” Defense Ministry deputy spokesperson Na Seng-yong said at a news briefing.

Currently, only select groups ― Korean soldiers assigned to the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, troops dispatched overseas and the Marine Corps ― are obligated to display the Taegeukgi on their uniforms.

For 23-year-old Kim Han-sol, a former KATUSA soldier stationed at Camp Henry, Daegu, wearing the small flag patch made a big difference in shaping how he perceived himself as a Korean soldier during his time in the U.S. base.

“It’s strange what a small rectangular patch on your arm can do. It may not mean much to other people, but to people in uniform, it really makes you think about why you’re there,” Kim told The Korea Herald.

“Because all the U.S. soldiers had the American flag embroidered on their arms, the Korean flag on the arms of KATUSA soldiers really stood out. It really made us feel like we were representing the country in front of other military personnel,” he added.

The U.S. is among many countries whose soldiers wear uniforms embroidered with the national flag. In doing so, the policy helps build a sense of comradery, morale and personal duty to the nation, according to an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Navy.

“To us, it’s not just some material. The (American) flag is the one tangible symbol that represents our country, what we do and what we fight for,” said Edward Jackson, 28, a nuclear chief electronics technician for the U.S. Navy.

“Especially when going through boot camp, you end up seeing the flag differently because that’s when you come to realize that you have chosen to give your life for that flag,” he said.

“I think by wearing the Korean flag, (the Korean) soldiers will be able to build a stronger sense of national pride by having it show people, ‘Yes, I am South Korean,’” Jackson added.

The Ministry of Defense plans to first distribute the Taegeukgi patches and new uniforms equipped with space for a new patch to newly trained troops. The ministry also reportedly plans to hold a special ceremony in which the parents of the new soldiers can attach the national flag onto their children’s arms.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)