By Basant El-Faramawy
South Korea's Army has acknowledged that a training program for an elite special forces unit, in which female models taught catwalk techniques to male soldiers, was inappropriate. The event, called the K-Walking Performance Military Festival, took place on October 29 at the 1st Special Forces Brigade base.
Training Program Details
Footage obtained by broadcaster TV Chosun showed female models wearing camouflage outfits and high heels demonstrating runway walks and poses to groups of soldiers. The soldiers imitated the movements, including walking with one foot placed in front of the other, turning their bodies, and striking poses with bent arms. The brigade initially described the event as a personal development program held twice a year to improve posture, walking techniques, and military bearing.
Political and Public Backlash
The footage sparked criticism on social media, with users questioning why a unit responsible for high-risk operations was spending time on runway techniques. People Power Party lawmaker Park Choong-kwon condemned the program on Facebook, linking it to broader security concerns amid North Korean missile provocations. He argued that the soldiers should not be blamed and that the military must take responsibility for the humiliation felt by elite troops.
Army Admits Inappropriateness
An Army official admitted the program had not been properly assessed before it was organized. The official said the content did not suit the unit's characteristics or the soldiers' needs and expectations. The Army pledged to gather soldiers' opinions from the planning stage of future personal development programs and to carefully review training content.
Context of Martial Law Deployment
The 1st Special Forces Brigade was among the units deployed during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. The brigade's commander at the time, Lee Sang-hyun, is currently on trial over charges connected to that declaration.
