Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Jin Won Seo found special meaning in representing Australia as a member of the United Nations Command (UNC) Honor Guard during his five-and-a-half-month deployment to the Republic of Korea under Operation Linesmen.

“I’m sincerely grateful to the Australian Defence Force for granting me this meaningful opportunity,” Leading Aircraftman Seo said. 

“Representing Australia in such a prestigious and symbolic unit was a dream come true.”

The UNC Honor Guard is the only multinational military honour guard in the world. 

It provides ceremonial support at official events, honours fallen service members and represents the solidarity of nations that provided combat and medical support under the UN flag during the Korean War. 

As part of the guard, Leading Aircraftman Seo worked with soldiers and civilians from the Republic of Korea, United States, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand. 

“Working alongside soldiers and civilians from diverse nations and cultural backgrounds has been incredibly rewarding. Despite our differences, we are united by professionalism and a shared commitment to peace,” he said.

During his deployment, Leading Aircraftman Seo carried the Australian flag at an Anzac Day dawn service at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, and at a Camp Humphreys ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Command. 

At a battalion function at Camp Humphreys earlier this year, Leading Aircraftman Seo was recognised for outstanding service, for which he received a certificate from the battalion and a challenge coin from Combined Forces Command Deputy Commander General Kang Shin-chul.

Born in Gyeonggi-do in the Republic of Korea, Leading Aircraftman Seo completed 26 months of mandatory service in the Republic of Korea Army before moving to Melbourne in 2005 with his wife, Jina Jung. After working as a chef for a decade, he joined the ADF in 2017, seeking a more meaningful career.

Before deploying to the Korean Peninsula, he served with the Australian Federation Guard.