Samsung heir to participate in multinational exercise in Thailand

지난해 11월 28일 오후 경남 창원시 진해구 해군사관학교 연병장에서 열린 제139기 해군·해병대 사관후보생 수료 및 임관식에서 이재용 삼성전자 회장(제일 오른쪽)과 홍라희 리움미술관 명예관장(왼쪽)이 이지호 신임 소위와 기념 촬영하고 있다.

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Lee Ji-ho, the son of Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, will participate in his first overseas combined exercise next month since being commissioned as an ensign in November last year.

According to military sources on Friday, Lee junior is expected to be dispatched to Cobra Gold, the largest multinational combined exercise held annually in Thailand since 1982, hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

This year's exercise, slated to be held from Feb. 24 to March 6, is expected to be one of the biggest including various drills such as amphibious landings and other operations, with more than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries including about 300 South Korean Navy personnel and marines.

Ji-ho, who serves as an interpreter officer, is expected to help facilitate communication among the multinational forces during the exercise.

He gave up his U.S. citizenship to fulfill his military duty in South Korea by enlisting as a naval officer candidate in September. After completing 10 weeks of combat training, he was commissioned as an ensign in November, with the entire Samsung family including his grandmother Hong Ra-hee gathering to congratulate him.

His rare move drew attention in South Korea, where most scions of conglomerate or chaebol families are mysteriously exempt from mandatory military service.
Jo Seong-jun 기자 critic@ajunews.com

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