Private 1st Infantry Division leaves for Poland on vacation
Marine Corps “Attempting to contact through father and acquaintances”
It has been confirmed that one active-duty Marine Corps soldier left the country to participate in the Ukrainian International Volunteer Army.
The Marine Corps announced on the 22nd that “Private A of the 1st Marine Division recently left for Poland on vacation.” Private A is said to have crossed the border in a village following heading to the Ukraine border by bus from Warsaw.
The Marine Corps explained, “We are trying to contact him through his father and acquaintances so that he can voluntarily return home.” Private A is subject to punishment for defecting from military service. He is known to have said that Private A left the country with the intention of being punished if he returned to Korea.
Active duty military personnel must obtain an overseas travel permit to travel abroad while on vacation. However, since there is no procedure to confirm this at the airport, there is no device to prevent this even if active duty military personnel leave the country.
Relevant authorities, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also started the process to persuade Private A to return him to Korea. This is in consideration of safety issues and the fact that if Private A, an active duty soldier, participates in battle following enlisting in the Ukrainian Army, it may become an international problem.