Chinese media have put the ROK Army Special Forces (ROKA-SF) in the spotlight, due to the great popularity of the Korean drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’. (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 1 (Korea Bizwire) – Chinese media have put the ROK Army Special Forces (ROKA-SF) in the spotlight, due to the great popularity of the Korean drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’.
The ROKA-SF was established on April 1, 1958. Troops from the unit typically infiltrate enemy camps, and execute operations such as guerilla fighting, disturbance operations, reconnaissance missions, direct attacks, kidnapping and assassinating key figures, rescuing hostages, destroying core facilities, and psychological warfare.
The Chinese newspaper that mentioned the matter compared the ‘real ROKA-SF’ and the unit portrayed in the drama. It seems like Chinese viewers as well as the press are interested in the drama and its characters due to the rising popularity of ‘Descendants of the Sun’.
The newspaper reported that the ‘Taebek Unit’ which was sent to ‘Uruk’ in the drama was portrayed based on the ROKA-SF 707 Special Unit. Quoting South Korean military experts, the newspaper said the 707 unit developed from the 606 unit, which was a part of the presidential security service established in 1977, and dismantled in 1993.
Although Chinese military enthusiasts said that some of the unit’s abilities are exaggerated in the drama, the newspaper evaluated the existing unit as being composed of elite troops quoting Chinese experts.
The newspaper introduced many cases of the Korean troops being sent overseas to participate in UN Peacekeeping Forces, and noted that the premise of a helicopter coming to pick up captain Yoo Si-jin (played by Song Joong-gi) could be possible with the cooperation of the Korean Air Force.
However, the newspaper also pointed out that the fictional troops sent to Uruk are dressed quite differently from typical UN peacekeepers. The troops in the drama wear Korean uniforms, hats and badges, but in reality, they should be wearing the badge of the UN Peacekeeping Forces.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
