South Korean soldier arrested by Seoul after trying to fight in Ukraine

South Korean marines during a patrol on Yeonpyeong Island in South Korea, June 16, 2020. © Kim In-chul/AP

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2 mins

A South Korean serviceman tried to go to fight in Ukraine, but failed to cross the Ukrainian-Polish border and had to return home.

A return that went wrong since he was arrested when he arrived on Korean territory.

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With our correspondent in Seoul,

Many stories circulate about Germans, Americans, French or Poles who left to lend a hand to the Ukrainian army in its resistance against Russia.

But a South Korean also tried his luck.

In full military service, a marine deserted to fight more than 7,500 km from home.

The soap opera lasted more than a month and began when the young man arrived in Poland at the end of March.

But the local authorities have forbidden him to cross the border with Ukraine.

Despite this failure, he repeatedly refused to return to his country and even spoke on social networks of the difficulties he experienced in the Korean army.

Eventually, his attempt to reach Ukraine ends up behind bars.

Up to 10 years in prison for the conscript

On Monday, the Ministry of Defense announced that he had been arrested upon his arrival in South Korea.

The conscript, whose identity has not been revealed, broke several prohibitions.

First of all, the country had banned all travel to Ukraine for its nationals since mid-February, but especially men performing their military service are prohibited from leaving the country without the authorization of the army.

A crime that can lead to a ten-year prison sentence in a country still officially at war with the North. 

The announcement of this arrest comes a few days after that of the death of one of the four South Koreans who left to fight alongside the Ukrainians.

►Also read: French volunteers join the "

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• South Korea

• Ukraine

• Defense