How Many Overseas Deployed Soldiers Have Been Vaccinated?

Our military has deployed a total of about 10,000 personnel annually to 16 countries worldwide. (Photo by Joint Chiefs of Staff)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Six crew members aboard the 34th Cheonghae Unit’s Munmu the Great-class destroyer (4,400 tons), currently deployed overseas, have tested positive for COVID-19, drawing attention to the vaccination status of deployed troops abroad.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 15th, there are about 1,300 troops deployed overseas. Among them, approximately 960 (72.6%) have completed vaccination against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The vaccinated personnel include those from the Hanbit Unit in South Sudan, the Dongmyeong Unit in Lebanon, and the Ark Unit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Except for some unvaccinated individuals who declined vaccination by personal choice, most have completed vaccination either locally or domestically before deployment.

However, most of the unvaccinated personnel are about 300 members of the 34th Cheonghae Unit, who are scheduled to return next month and as of today have at least six confirmed cases. They departed in early February before priority vaccination for deployed personnel began in March, and thus none were vaccinated before deployment, raising concerns about further spread. In contrast, the 35th Cheonghae Unit, which departed for waters near Africa at the end of last month, has completed vaccination domestically.

Personnel deployed overseas on an individual basis or scheduled for deployment are receiving vaccinations either locally or domestically. The Ministry of National Defense reported that out of a total of 42 such personnel, 30 have completed vaccination and the remaining 12 are in progress.

Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in on the 15th ordered the rapid dispatch of quarantine and medical personnel in response to the COVID-19 cases among the Navy’s Cheonghae Unit deployed overseas.

At a staff meeting that morning, President Moon said, "Dispatch an air refueling transport aircraft to quickly deploy quarantine personnel, medical staff, quarantine and treatment equipment, and supplies to the site as soon as possible," according to Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi.

President Moon also instructed that if local treatment conditions are inadequate, patients should be promptly transported back to Korea, and that the situation of other deployed units should be reviewed to prevent similar incidents through management and support.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.