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Two soldiers who lost their legs in DMZ land-mine explosion receive medals

December 23, 2015
A leg-shaped sculpture is seen at a park in Imjingak near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on Dec. 23, 2013, as the Army holds an event to unveil the structure symbolizing the legs that the two soldiers -- Ssg. Kim Jung-won and Ssg. Hah Jae-hun -- lost in a landmine blast blamed on North Korea in August. At the event, the two soldiers were awarded national orders for their "bravery and contributions" to national security. Kim is walking again with a prosthetic leg while Ha, who lost both legs, is continuing his rehabilitation. (Yonhap)

A leg-shaped sculpture is seen at a park in Imjingak near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on Dec. 23, 2013, as the Army holds an event to unveil the structure symbolizing the legs that the two soldiers — Ssg. Kim Jung-won and Ssg. Hah Jae-hun — lost in a landmine blast blamed on North Korea in August. At the event, the two soldiers were awarded national orders for their “bravery and contributions” to national security. Kim is walking again with a prosthetic leg while Ha, who lost both legs, is continuing his rehabilitation. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — Two South Korean soldiers severely injured in North Korea’s land-mine attack in August were awarded national orders Wednesday for their “bravery and contributions” to national security, the Army said.

Army Staff Sgt. Kim Jung-won, 23, lost his right leg on Aug. 4 after stepping on a land mine buried by North Korea on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

Following surgery and rehabilitation, Kim returned to the Army with a prosthetic leg in early December.

The other injured soldier, 21-year-old Staff Sgt. Hah Jae-hun, is still undergoing rehabilitation after losing both legs.

The Gwangbok Medal, the fifth of the five-class order, was awarded to the soldiers at an Army event to unveil a sculpture in Imjingak near the DMZ that marks the land-mine attack.

Presidential and ministerial commendations were also given to six other soldiers who were carrying out a search operation with the two staff sergeants when the buried land mines exploded.

“The presentation of the orders and commendations are designed to honor the bravery and comradeship that the soldiers have shown when the North Korea-strewn wooden-box land mines exploded,” the Army said.