SOUTH KOREA: South Korean students toughen up at a marine style boot camp

Record ID: 345223

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Korean students toughen up at a marine style boot camp
  • Date: 6th January 2010
  • Summary: ANSAN, SOUTH KOREA (JANUARY 6, 2009) (REUTERS) STUDENTS SQUATTING UP AND DOWN WHILE HOLDING LOG STUDENTS SHOUTING WHILE HOLDING LOG TWO MALE STUDENTS SHOUTING WHILE HOLDING LOG MORE OF STUDENT SHOUTING WHILE HOLDING LOG STUDENTS SQUATTING UP AND DOWN WHILE HOLDING LOG UNDER THE WATCH OF TRAINER STUDENT TEARING WHILE SHOUTING MORE OF STUDENTS SQUATTING UP AND DOWN WH
  • Embargoed: 21st January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABB6BWBKWV9SUP86V33C6X0ELT
  • Story Text: During the annual winter break in South Korea, some students have signed up for a marine style boot camp to toughen up, instead of staying home to watch television or play video games.
    Wearing military uniforms and braving chilly winter temperatures, 104 students took part in boot camp training on Wednesday (January 6), near a beach in Ansan, about 66 km southeast of Seoul.
    Students were put through military style training to develop their toughness and perseverance.
    Students were made to carry logs while shouting and counting outdoors on a field covered with snow.
    The tough training pushed some students to tears.
    "I expected this to be fun, but it's very tough," said eight-year-old student, Lee Gwan-hee, who had signed up for the boot camp voluntarily.
    Many sign up in the hope of becoming more disciplined and to enhance their mental and physical strength. Training lasts for up to 10 hours each day, throughout the five-day training program.
    Boot camp trainer, Park Tae-jin, said the camp prepares students for the real world.
    "It's a tough world out there. These students came here in their adolescence to grow a 'Never give up' spirit, through this tough camp," said Park.
    Some students said the tough training had changed their outlook on life.
    "After this training, I will do my best for anything and overcome tough situations, thinking about what I went through here," said 14-year-old student, Choi Seung-ah.
    The marine style boot camp includes activities such as rappelling, a river-crossing simulation, basic exercises and team events under the close watch of trainers from the private military camp.
    The camp called Chungryong, has been training students since 1999 and more than 300 students have registered to join the boot camp this winter.
    ENDS.
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