◀ anchor ▶
After MBC’s exclusive report that live ammunition was lost from the 101st Guards Corps guarding around the presidential office, additional reports came in about the actual condition of the Guards.
After the relocation of the Yongsan office, the working conditions have deteriorated significantly and fatigue has increased.
This is reporter Cha Hyun-jin.
◀ Report ▶
You can see a three-story building hidden in the trees right in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office.
With the relocation of the presidential office, three battalions of the 101st Guards moved in here on the 11th of last month.
It was decided to use the building used by the ROK Army psychological corps as a waiting and living space.
The reporters met with some guards officers and were able to see photos of the inside.
Due to security concerns, the photo has been reconstructed as an illustration
Paper boxes filled with the members’ equipment are stacked on each wall, and clothes hangers with uniforms are placed everywhere.
Various shoes such as shoes and slippers are scattered on the floor, and personal items such as bags are also scattered on the floor.
There were no lockers or closets to store personal equipment, so they were mixed and stacked.
As a result, in the internal chat room of the guards, there are even posts asking, ‘If you borrowed a belt, bring it,’ and ‘If you bring the wrong hat and shoes, please bring it’.
There is no more place for people to rest
[101경비단 관계자]
“There are hundreds and dozens of people here…and in the midst of this, we’re just going to sit down and rest.”
Summer is coming and there is no air conditioning.
There are only 30 beds in the common room where you can lie down and rest for a while.
Considering that there are about 120 people in one battalion, it is not enough, but members who could not wash properly due to the lack of a shower room were using it, and even the name of the room satirizes the stench.
[101경비단 관계자]
“The names are vinegar room, glacial acetic acid room… The vinegar smell is so strong. I can’t wash my feet and now I’m lying down…”
The problem is that the remaining manpower will be transferred to the Blue House next month and the space will be narrower.
101 Guards personnel contacted by reporters complained of increased fatigue as the working hours increased due to the deteriorating living conditions.
There were even multiple testimonies that some members lost consciousness and collapsed while on duty.
This is Cha Hyun-jin from MBC News.
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