KATUSA Soldiers are different compared to regular ROK Armed Forces. Though they wear the ROK Army service tape and are paid by the Korean government, they serve under the operational command of the U.S. Army units. Assigned across the Korean Peninsula, they integrate directly into American formations, working side by side with U.S. Soldiers.

The 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division is the last remaining permanently forward-stationed division in the U.S. Army. The 2nd Infantry Division deters aggression and maintains peace on the Korean Peninsula; and if deterrence fails, “Fight Tonight” in support of the U.S-Republic of Korea Alliance.

For Pfc. Min-hoh Choi, a KATUSA assigned to the 2D/RUCD Public Affairs Office, the program represented both a rare professional opportunity and a personal challenge.

“Being a KATUSA is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Min-hoh Choi said. “The welfare and living conditions are better compared to other ROK Army assignments, but what really excited me was the chance to gain special experiences and be part of something that symbolizes the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”

To qualify, candidates must pass one of several English proficiency tests, scoring above the threshold before applying. Once accepted, they complete five weeks of ROK Army basic training followed by three weeks at the KATUSA Training Academy. There, they receive additional English instruction and familiarize themselves with U.S. Army acronyms, operations, and standards.

Cpl. Jiwon Yun,a senior KATUSA assigned to the 2D/RUCD, said he first learned about the program in high school.

“I saw a video about KATUSA on YouTube, and I thought it was an amazing opportunity,” Yun said. “We all have to serve, but this way I could improve my English and work alongside the U.S. Army.”

Yun agreed, adding that KATUSAs act as mediators.

“As military ambassadors, we encourage mutual relations between the two armies,” Yun said. “We can speak both languages, we help bridge the gap and strengthen readiness for both sides.”

A typical day for a KATUSA Soldier mirrors that of their U.S. counterparts morning formation, duty in their assigned section, and evening accountability formation. For those assigned to Public Affairs, like Jiwon Yun, Min-hoh Choi, and Yoon Hyeok Choi, that means documenting training and operations through photo and video.

Another 2D/RUCD Soldier, Pfc. Yoon Hyeok Choi, affectionately known in the office as “Big Choi,” said he volunteered to become a KATUSA to experience a multicultural environment.

“I wanted to work with the U.S. military and improve my English,” Yoon Choi said.

The KATUSA program is more than just a service obligation it is a partnership forged during the Korean War and sustained for more than 70 years.

“The KATUSA program is at the heart of the Alliance,” Min-Hoh Choi said. “We are ROK Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army to fight alongside them. It represents the strength and unity of our nations.”

For young Koreans preparing for mandatory service, the program remains highly competitive. Despite the challenges of limited sleep during training and the demands of dual reporting chains, the experience is widely regarded as invaluable.

Yoon Hyeok Choi offered simple advice for future applicants.

“If you have the chance, join. Everyone tries anyway and for good reason. It’s worth it.”

As U.S. and ROK forces continue to train and operate together across the peninsula, the KATUSA program ensures the Alliance remains not only strong at the strategic level, but personal at the Soldier level.