Strategies to impress residents (1)

Strategies to impress residents (1)

 

[시사타임즈 = 이철원 본지 회장] The view from the military transport aircraft while conducting field reconnaissance before the troops were dispatched in early December was even more horrifying than what was reported in the media.

 

Coconut trees all over the island had fallen, and the water that had not yet escaped was stagnant and black. Some of the cement buildings along the coast remained only the frame, most of the wooden buildings showed only traces, and most of the inland buildings had their roofs blown off. A month has passed since the typhoon, but residents are still searching for the bodies of their families here and there. Seeing the children terrified with open eyes made my heart ache and tears welled up. The thought, 'How can we bring laughter back to these people and give them hope in life?' dominated me.

 

Moreover, with many UN aid organizations and armed forces of other countries working in the area, in order to achieve the purpose of our dispatch and enhance our national prestige, we ask ourselves, ‘How should we approach and act differently? How can we win the hearts of the residents?’

 

▲ARAW Commander discussing tactics with the Philippine Army. ⒞시사타임즈

The first impression is the last impression.

From my experience in East Timor and Iraq in the past, the first impression of a unit to the locals is very important just as the first impression is important to a person. In particular, it is not an exaggeration to say that the success or failure of a civil operation is determined at the beginning of the operation. Since the first impressions of local residents toward foreign troops usually last until the end, if the residents' perceptions and reactions are negative at first, it is difficult and takes a long time to correct them later.

 

In the dispatch agreement between the ROK government and the Philippines, it was stipulated that “the period of dispatch of the Korean troops shall be six months, but can be extended by six months if there is mutual consent between the two countries.” So, if we didn't do our job well, we could have withdrawn in six months. Therefore, as a unit commander, I had to make a good impression on the local residents at the beginning and get a favorable response.

 

▲ARAW receiving a letter of thanks from Childid. ⒞시사타임즈

At that time, local residents and the media expressed their intention to welcome the dispatch of the Korean army as a disaster recovery support unit to the Philippines, but there were some negative factors as follows. 

 

First, South Korean troops entered the Philippines for the first time since the US withdrew from the Philippines in 1992. Therefore, although the Philippine government requested the dispatch of troops from Korea, there was anticipation and antipathy toward foreign troops due to the historical background of being colonized by Spain, the United States, and Japan.

 

Second, there were voices of concern that Filipino women might suffer difficulties because Korean men like women, along with uncomfortable feelings about the Kopino issue, which was an issue at the time.

 

Third, what can the soldiers do in the disaster recovery period after the emergency relief period has passed? There was a cynical reaction from some UN agencies, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and local governments.

 

Fourth, the local complex political situation. The Tacloban area where the ARAW Unit was dispatched was not the area the Philippine government requested to dispatch, but the area we selected. It was also the hometown and political background of First Lady Imelda, a political rival of the current Philippine President, and was unfriendly to the current government.

 

Therefore, it was unclear how the dispatch of the South Korean army would affect the current government even if we were well-received by the residents for our mission.

 

In order to resolve these negative factors identified during the reconnaissance in early December and gain trust from the local residents, a strategy was needed that could give a certain ‘impact’from the beginning of the operation.

 

As the saying goes, “If you want something from the other party, impress the other party first.” In order to win the hearts of the residents, the strategy was focused on ‘impressing the residents’and the project was planned and promoted.

 

▲Children waving flags saying _thank you. ⒞시사타임즈

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