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๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Conflict & Security

South Korean Navy appoints first female commander for major warship

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Capt. Bae Seon-young becomes the first woman to command a major South Korean naval vessel, the Dokdo amphibious assault ship.
  • Bae, a graduate of the Naval Academy's first class to admit women, has extensive experience on various naval ships.
  • She expressed pride and a sense of responsibility, vowing to maximize the Dokdo's capabilities and support joint operations.

In a historic first for the South Korean Navy, Capt. Bae Seon-young has been appointed as the commander of the Dokdo, a 14,500-ton large transport ship (LPH).

The experience gained from serving on various vessels, from combat ships to support ships, has given me a comprehensive perspective.

โ€” Capt. Bae Seon-youngBae reflected on her career path leading to her command of the Dokdo.

Bae, who entered the Naval Academy in 1999 as part of the first class to admit female cadets, will officially take command on November 5. Her career includes serving as the commander of the patrol boat Chamsuri 282, operations officer on the Namwon corvette, and commander of the Wonsan mine layer. The rank of "commander" for a naval vessel varies depending on its size and type; captains of larger vessels, like the Dokdo, hold the rank of captain (๋Œ€๋ น).

The Dokdo, the first of its kind in the navy, measures 199 meters in length and 30 meters in width. It can carry over 300 crew members and up to 700 troops for amphibious operations, along with helicopters, tanks, and other vehicles. Bae previously served as a deck officer aboard the Dokdo.

Based on my operational experience, I will command the Dokdo to perfectly execute combined joint operations during contingencies by overseeing the flow of maritime operations.

โ€” Capt. Bae Seon-youngBae outlined her command strategy for the Dokdo.

"The experience gained from serving on various vessels, from combat ships to support ships, has given me a comprehensive perspective," Bae stated. "Based on my operational experience, I will command the Dokdo to perfectly execute combined joint operations during contingencies by overseeing the flow of maritime operations."

It is an immense honor and a heavy responsibility to stand on the bridge of the Dokdo again as its commander, a ship where I once served as a deck officer.

โ€” Capt. Bae Seon-youngBae expressed her feelings about returning to the Dokdo in a new role.

Expressing her honor and responsibility, Bae added, "It is an immense honor and a heavy responsibility to stand on the bridge of the Dokdo again as its commander, a ship where I once served as a deck officer. Knowing the Dokdo's operational characteristics better than anyone, I will communicate deeply with the crew to maximize its potential." She also offered words of encouragement to her junior female colleagues, urging them to continue with pride on their challenging path.

Knowing the Dokdo's operational characteristics better than anyone, I will communicate deeply with the crew to maximize its potential.

โ€” Capt. Bae Seon-youngBae emphasized her familiarity with the Dokdo and her commitment to its crew.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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