SEOUL — South Korea is set to dispatch a new group of troops to South Sudan for peacekeeping operations, military officials announced on Tuesday. The 18th rotation of the Hanbit unit, comprising South Korean soldiers, will depart for the African nation later this month, aiming to replace the current contingent working under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. A ceremony in Incheon, west of Seoul, was held to bid farewell to the departing troops.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea first sent the Hanbit unit to South Sudan in 2013, contributing to peacekeeping efforts and aiding in the recovery of the country, which has been devastated by civil war. The latest rotation, involving about 270 troops, is scheduled to leave in two phases on Sunday and April 14 for an eight-month mission. In South Sudan, these troops will engage in reconstructive activities, including the repair of social infrastructure and the operation of a vocational school, furthering South Korea's commitment to international peacekeeping efforts.