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College student becomes Korea’s first female Marine ROTC cadet

January 29, 2015
(Kim Sang-a Korea Times file)

(Kim Sang-a Korea Times file)

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Kim Sang-a, 24, a sophomore at Jeju National University, has become the first female Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet for the Marine Corps. She will start to receive her training and education next month.

Until recently, female students have not been allowed to apply for the ROTC for the Marine Corps.

Kim, studying in the Department of Marine Industrial and Maritime Police, passed the ROTC screening test in June and completed her two-week military training on Jan. 16 at a Marine boot camp in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

Kim’s cadet enlistment ceremony is scheduled for Feb 17.

“Becoming a soldier was my dream,” Kim said.

Born and bred in Seoul, Kim entered the university on Jeju Island to become a female ROTC cadet.

“I am proud of myself to realize my dream after a long and hard training at the camp,” Kim said with delight.

“I want to become a role model for junior female ROTC cadets, proving women can also serve in the military.”

Under the nation’s ROTC program, cadets receive military education throughout four semesters, or two years, and serve for two years and six months after being commissioned.

The women’s program, established in 2010 at seven universities, has rapidly gained popularity as a total of 70 schools are now running the ROTC program for female students. The slots have also increased from 60 to 250 during the period.

According to the Army, some 1,500 female students applied for the 250 openings in the country last year.