President Park Geun-hye, on an official state visit to Ethiopia, invited 15 soldiers serving with the Hanbit Battalion in South Sudan to Addis Ababa to thank them for their services.

At the event, President Park asked the soldiers to take pride in the fact that they are Korea's military diplomats, and encouraged them to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. In reference to the recent hit TV show "Descendents of the Sun," the president said, "All of you here are real life heroes from the TV show. The hard work you put into each mission, enduring harsh conditions, do not go unnoticed. I am thankful for your efforts and for the way in which you enhance our national prestige."

Since March 2013, over 1,800 Korean soldiers have rotated through the northeastern African nation as part of the Hanbit Battalion, whose name represents a "beacon of hope for the reconstruction of South Sudan." The military unit oversees construction projects and provides humanitarian and medical aid across the region. Currently, there are 293 soldiers dispatched to the Hanbit Battalion.

By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
hlee10@korea.kr