Soldiers got the opportunity to visit historical and cultural sites from April 14-15 in Dongducheon and Seoul, thanks to a partnership program between civilian and military organizations.
Locally, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion "Thunder Horse," 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, met with Dongducheon City Mayor Sechang Oh, and then visited the Dongducheon Museum of Liberty, Protection and Peace, and the closed-circuit television video surveillance facility in the city. Dongducheon, a city of 10,000 people outside Camp Casey, has more than 1,000 video cameras installed in the community.
"To maintain the friendship and relationship between the city of Dongducheon and Soldiers, we are proud to provide this trip for Soldiers to experience Korean culture," said Seojin Lee, culture tour organizer.
After the local stops, Thunder Horse Soldiers headed out to Seoul to Changdeokgung Palace, built after the Gyeongbukgung Palace in 1405. Soldiers toured the "secret gardens" of the palace and heard historical narratives from the facility, one of the five remaining royal Joseon Dynasty palaces. After dinner, Soldiers visited the commercial area of Seoul known as Myeong-dong, and then went to their rooms in traditional Korean guest houses.
The second day began with breakfast and photos in traditional Korean garb, and then on to a workshop where Soldiers made their own "stamps," hand carved emblems that can serve as legal signatures on documents in Korea.
After a Korean buffet lunch, Soldiers visited the Insadong shopping district and the Seoul Fortress.
"For me, this experience was unbelievable, because it gave me the opportunity to learn about the Korean culture and their people," said Cpl. Alejandra Villegas, Forward Support Company G, 2-12 CAV, and native of Colombia. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so grateful that I could do it."
The trip exposed Soldiers to many aspects of Korean life that Soldiers were unaware of, said Capt. James Thornton, Task Force Engineer, 2-12 CAV.
"We were able to see and experience traditional Korean living, markets, clothing, and dining," said Thornton, a native of Midwest City, Oklahoma. "Most importantly, expert tour guides taught us a lot about important aspects of Korean history including the Korean War and the Seoul City Wall. It was very insightful talking to the officials from the City of Dongducheon and the professional tour guides."
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