(Printed Permission From NavySeal.com) With the specter of Russian involvement in Ukraine, South Korea banned its residents from touring there in early February. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped a few of their residents from making their approach into the lively warfare zone as volunteer troopers.
Most notably, veteran and YouTuber, Ken Rhee, amongst others, made their approach into the nation to assist combat Russian forces. Rhee is a former member of The Republic of Korea Navy Particular Warfare Flotilla, the South Korean equal of Navy SEALs.
For touring with out permission, Rhee may very well be topic to fines, lack of his passport, and even jail time, if convicted. He has said he’ll confess, if and when he is ready to return house. As well as, the nation might ban him from re-entering and stop him from acquiring a brand new passport as a South Korean citizen.
His mission, nevertheless, stays sturdy: to assist the folks of Ukraine and to assist defend their territory from Russian forces. He brings prior particular opps data to the desk, whereas volunteering on this seemingly unstructured mission.
Rhee served with the Korean Particular Warfare for eight years, earlier than becoming a member of an alternate program the place he got here to the U.S. to work with Navy SEALs. Rhee accomplished BUD/s coaching and remained with the American unit for 2 years earlier than returning to South Korea to work as an teacher.
Rhee, 37, mentioned initially he and others tried to journey with South Korean permission, however there was a lot pushback. As a substitute, the crew of 4 left of their very own means.
Rhee has not named his journey companions. He continues to put up updates on Instagram, together with calling out the South Korean authorities to assist.
“My workforce has arrived safely in Ukraine. Slightly than waste time in search of to invalidate our passports, take into consideration how one can assist,” he wrote in an Instagram put up.
In his posts, he has additionally cited the previous as further motivation. Particularly, different international locations’ assist in the Korean warfare; now it’s their probability to pay it again, and pay it ahead. Apart from, he mentioned, it’s simply the proper factor to do.
Primarily based on Rhee’s social media posts, it additionally appears like he traveled together with his personal gear. He and three others formally landed on March 7th.
