Soldier who lost leg in land mine blast completes rehabilitation
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean solider left a hospital on Wednesday with a new prosthetic leg after completing rehabilitation treatment for the injury suffered in a land mine blast blamed on North Korea in August, the Defense Ministry said.
The 23-year-old Kim Jung-won is one of the two South Korean soldiers who were seriously injured by the mine explosion blamed on North Korea near the inter-Korean border on Aug. 4.
Following four months of treatment, the staff sergeant was discharged from a hospital in Seoul with a prosthetic right leg that begins below his knee.
The land mine incident led Seoul to resume its anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker campaign along the border in August, irritating the North.
But the two Koreas reached a landmark deal on Aug. 25 on defusing military tension following high tension sparked by the mine blast.
Kim, in a combat uniform, told reporters that he wants to return to the military and do his part.
"Now, I can walk and run," Kim said. "I've realized how good it is to be able to walk."
The staff sergeant said that he felt devastated to think about walking on one foot when he regained consciousness at an intensive care unit after the blast.
"A battle with myself," Kim answered when asked about his biggest challenge.
Meanwhile, Ha Jae-hun, the other injured solider, will continue his rehabilitation until the end of this month, according to the hospital.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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