A man recently shared a handwritten note he received while serving as a mandatory soldier back in 2015, from a fifth grader who was concerned about his safety in the aftermath of North Korea's military provocations.
The letter was said to be from a student attending Yeongwol Elementary School in Gangwon Province, dated Sept. 17, 2025.
"I was moved and thankful when I saw the news that (the soldiers) stayed vigilant when North Korea raised tensions with provocations," the letter shared via various social media platforms read. "When I heard the news I thought, 'What about the soldiers?"
The incident in the letter refers to an explosion involving a wooden-box mine on Aug. 4, 2015, thought to be planted by the North Korean forces. Two South Korean non-commissioned officers lost parts of their legs due to the blast.
North Korea denied it was behind the explosions, and fired shots toward the South on Aug. 20. This led to an exchange of artillery fire between the Koreas, leading to tensions across the inter-Korea border.
"If there is a war, please live and protect us. And I want to be a soldier myself someday, I promise," the letter went onto say, signed "From (name) who respects the soldiers." The name was blurred out by the person who posted the letter.
The man expressed his appreciation for the letter, and wished the sender happiness and health.
It is customary in many South Korean schools to have the students write to the enlisted soldiers, out of respect for their service.
The country mandates all able-bodied men to serve in the military for at least 18 months, due to it being technically at war with North Korea. This is because the 1950-53 Korean War was halted in an armistice, not in a peace treaty.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com