South Korean UNIFIL troops get “morale boost” from visit by foreign minister
South Korea Foreign Minister, Song Min-soon visited with his country”s peacekeepers participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday to offer words of encouragement to the troops. Song arrived in Lebanon on Thursday evening and visited the South Korean unit stationed in the vicinity of the coastal city of Tyre after a meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and other government officials.
“Song is the first high-ranking government official to visit the compound of the Korean contingent and his visit encouraged Korean soldiers who are serving thousands of kilometers from home,” a statement issued by the South Korean contingent said.
Song also met with UNIFIL”s commander, Major General Claudio Graziano, and was briefed about UNIFIL”s achievements and the activities of the South Korean contingent. Graziano emphasized the successful civil-military operations of the unit, saying that the activities of the troops had “contributed much to enhancing the status of the UN in the region.”
Song was welcomed by South Korean soldiers with an honorary ceremony when he visited their compound.
The contingent”s commander, Colonel Kim Ung-geon, briefed Song on the activities and operations of the unit. The minister spent some time at the unit”s base, sharing lunch and discussions with the soldiers.
Song then took a short tour of the compound, visiting the unit”s welfare and recreation facilities, by which he said he was deeply impressed. The minister also had an opportunity to test the equipment the soldiers are using for their operations. Then he took a ride around the compound aboard an armored personnel carrier.
The soldiers of the South Korean contingent then planted a cedar tree together with the minister to commemorate his visit, and held a photo session.
Before leaving the compound, Song said, “I am very proud of all of you for achieving this much in such a short period of five months, and for your reputation inside UNIFIL. Please continue to do your best and take care of yourself as well for the remaining period of time, until you redeploy back to Korea.”
“The minister”s visit served as a great boost to the morale of the soldiers, enhancing the status of Korea and the unit within UNIFIL,” the contigent”s statement concluded.