Retired Lt. Gen. Chun In-bum to receive presidential commendation for animal welfare work

Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general of the Korean Army, will receive a presidential commendation at a ceremony marking World Biodiversity Day on May 22, the government said Tuesday. The award recognizes his contributions to animal protection through membership in the Korean Animal Welfare Association, where he has been involved in animal rescue and protection activities since retiring from military service. The presidential commendation will be Chun's second. The first came following the 2007 Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan, during which he was deployed as head of Korea's military coordination team and helped coordinate the rescue operation. Chun held senior roles, including commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command and key positions within the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command, before retiring in 2016. "When I was in uniform, my mission was to protect lives," Chun said. "Since retiring, I have tried to play a small role in building a society where humans and animals can live together. My respect for life has not changed." World Biodiversity Day, observed a

Original source: Korea Times