Soldier who lost his leg from North Korean mine speaks up

23-year-old Staff Sergeant Kim Jung Won, who was one of the soldiers to have his right foot blown away by the land mines placed by the North Korean People's Army, expressed his relief that "the rest of his unit are safe and sound."

That was the heartfelt answer Kim gave to Saenuri Party's representative Moon Jae In, who had paid the soldier a visit at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and asked him what his current wish was. Tears welling in his eyes, the sergeant had told Moon, "I'm thinking the most about my fellow troops." The first thing that Kim had asked when he awoke from his procedures was, "Is Sergeant Ha (another soldier who suffered wounds to his legs) okay?"

The sergeant's selfless actions and words are becoming an emblem of hope for those who had lost faith in the military for their lax security of the DMZ border.

Kim, who was leading the patrols the night of the land mine incident, saw Ha fall after stepping on a mine, and while trying to rescue his comrade, stepped on a land mine himself. After being carried to a safe location, Kim was said to have moved his body over so that Ha could also have a place to lie down, despite being in extreme agony.

Sergeant Kim was a soldier recognized for his leadership even before this incident transpired, having begun his military career in the special forces. During his meeting with Moon Jae In, Kim continued to smile, refusing to be disheartened and remaining positive about his predicament.

Moon complimented Kim generously for his inspiring attitude, saying, "He's a true soldier. His mentality is admirable."

Kim voiced his concern at the politician about the heightened tension between the north and the south. He told Moon, "The government declared a strong response towards the north but wouldn't a direct retaliation be falling right into the north's trap?" and worried that the hard work of the soldiers might be disregarded in the midst of all the criticism towards the military for its slip in alertness against the north.

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