Korean navy training unit visits Manila

The cruise training unit of the Republic of Korea Navy is set to arrive in Manila today for four days of public relations and goodwill activities.

Logistics support ship ROKS Taecheong, destroyer ROKS Kwanggaeto the Great and frigate ROKS Chungju are the participating vessels of this year’s training with a total crew of 770, including 150 midshipmen on board. The training unit is led by Rear Admiral Byungchil Chung.

This year’s training unit began its voyage on Oct. 9, 2000 from Chinhae, South Korea to Vladivostok, Russia. The unit then stopped at Guam, Hawaii, Vancouver in Canada, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Acapulco in Mexico, Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala, Callao in Peru, Papeete (Tahiti) in French Polynesia, Darwin in Australia and Manila as its 12th port of call. The unit has visited Manila 21 times, the latest in 1998.

The training unit is visiting 13 harbors of 13 countries around the Pacific Ocean, and will continue cruising to the last port of call which is in Tokyo, Japan before completing its voyage at the homeport on Feb. 5, 2001.

The cruise training unit, which was established in 1954, has set its goal not only in providing the midshipmen on-the-job experiences and heartening overseas Korean communities but also is actively engaged in naval diplomacy. The training usually takes three to five months.

The three ships of this year’s training are the main forces of the Republic of Korea Navy, each one built by Korean industries. The newly commissioned ROKS Kwanggaeto the Great has served as the flagship of International Fleet Review in 1998. She is armed with a state of the art anti-air and anti-surface weapon systems, and carries an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

The cruise training unit will arrive at the Port of Manila at 10 a.m. Upon arrival, there will be a welcome ceremony, then the ships will be opened to the public from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. for an exhibit of Korean culture at ROKS Taecheong.

At 4:30 p.m. there will be a performance by the Korean navy at the Quirino Grandstand. The following day, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Rizal Monument and in the evening, the cruise training unit will host a reception on board ROKS Taecheong for invited Filipino and Korean guests. Crew members of the ship will have a tour of Manila and local areas during the call.