Zaytun Division: Difference between revisions

| unit_name = Zaytun Division

| image = [[File:Southkoreansoldiersiraq.jpg|border|300px]]

| caption = South Korean soldiers in 2003

| country = {{flag|South Korea}}

| allegiance =

| branch = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Army_of_the_Republic_of_Korea.svg}} [[Republic of Korea Army]]

| type = [[Infantry division]]

| role = Security and reconstruction in [[ArbilErbil]], [[IraqKurdistan Region]]

| size = 8,000<br />650 - 3650–3,600 (rotation)

| command_structure = {{flagicon image|Flag of Multi-National Force – Iraq.png|size=23px}} [[Multi-National Force – Iraq]]

| current_commander =

| garrison = {{nowrap|[[ArbilErbil]], [[Iraqi Kurdistan Region]], Iraq}}

| ceremonial_chief =

| colonel_of_the_regiment =

| nickname =

| patron =

| motto =

| colors =

| march =

| mascot =

| battles = [[Iraq War]]

| notable_commanders =

| anniversaries =

The '''Zaytun Division''' ({{lang-ko|자이툰 부대자이툰부대}}; {{lang-ku|Tîpa Zeytûnê}}) was a [[Republic of Korea Army]] contingent operating in [[Iraqi KurdistanIraq]] from September 2004 to December 2008, carrying out peacekeeping and other reconstruction-related tasks as [[South Korea]]'s contribution to the [[Iraq War]].

South Korea dispatched a small contingent of 600 military medics and engineers (the 320th Medical Assistance 'JemaJerma' Unit and the 1100th Construction Engineer 'Seoheui' Unit) to predominantly Shia areas in Southern Iraq in April 2003.<ref>[http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200602/200602240023.html Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316173608/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200602/200602240023.html |date=2006-03-16 }}</ref> The [[United States]] government asked South Korea to send additional forces on September 4, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zaytun.mil.kr/intro/intro_3.htm|title=부대 연혁|work=Zaytun Div. website|accessdateaccess-date=2006-04-29|deadurlurl-status=yesdead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721132736/http://www.zaytun.mil.kr/intro/intro_3.htm|archivedatearchive-date=2006-07-21|df=}}</ref> Upon request, Seoul formed the Division 'Zaytun' ([[Transcription (linguistics)|transcription]] of [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word {{lang|ar|زيتون}}, '[[olive]]') which stressed the peace-keeping role of the troops. An additional 2,200 troops (mostly engineers) were deployed to [[ArbilErbil]] in the [[Kurdish AutonomousKurdistan Region]] of Northern Iraq by early September 2004 and were grouped with the humanitarian troops who were relocated from Southern Iraq. The combined unit consisted of 2,800 soldiers.<ref>[http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200411/200411070003.html Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050105184017/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200411/200411070003.html |date=2005-01-05 }}</ref> Another 800 soldiers were dispatched to reinforce the existing troops in Arbil in November 2004, thus increasing the size of South Korea's contingent to 3,600.<ref>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041002/news_1n2develop.html Daily developments | The San Diego Union-Tribune<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206083111/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041002/news_1n2develop.html |date=2004-12-06 }}</ref>

* 320th Medical Assistance Unit 'JimaJerma'

* [[Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command]] (2 BattalionBattalions)

Impassioned opposition to the deployment among both politicians and the public peaked during the captivity of South Korean [[Kim Sun-il]],<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=4644 Al Jazeera English -– Archive -– Anxiety And Grief Grip South Korea<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604230626/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=4644 |date=2011-06-04 }}</ref> who was kidnapped on June 17, 2004, and after his execution on June 22, 2004.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=4643 Al Jazeera English - Archive - S Koreans Press For U-Turn On Troop Despatch<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604230925/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=4643 |date=2011-06-04 }}</ref> The incident occurred while the bulk of the Korean contingent was being prepared for its upcoming deployment and triggered a major public debate as to whether they should be sent, involving sometimes violent and vocally anti-American protests.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-08-15-skorea-protests_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Thousands in South Korea protest sending more troops to Iraq | date=August 15, 2004 | access-date=2017-09-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020091345/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-08-15-skorea-protests_x.htm | archive-date=2011-10-20 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In early 2006, 1,300 troops were withdrawn following a December 2005 vote by the National Assembly (10-3 with one abstention).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/archive/archive?ArchiveId=16866 |title=ArchivedAl copyJazeera English - News |accessdateaccess-date=2007-11-17 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604231137/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/archive/archive?ArchiveId=16866 |archivedatearchive-date=2011-06-04 |df= }}</ref> Another 1,200 troops were sent home in early 2007, and it was widely assumed that a complete pullout would take place by the beginning of 2008, when the deployment mandate was set to expire.<ref>[http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=99439 Korea to extend Iraq troop deployment<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214230939/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=99439 |date=2007-12-14 }}</ref> However, on October 23, 2007, South Korean President [[Roh Moo-hyun]] announced that the mandate would be extended for another year, although the size of the contingent will be halved to 600.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2007/10/iraq-071023-voa01.htm|title=S. Korea Extends, But Cuts in Half, Military Deployment to Iraq|first=John|last=Pike|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171430/http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2007/10/iraq-071023-voa01.htm|archive-date=2017-04-08|url-status=live}}</ref> The decision to yet again renew the mandate came just several weeks away from December elections in South Korea, during which the extremely unpopular military deployment to Iraq was expected to become a significant issue.

In December 2007, South Korea had 933 personnel deployed;<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120702585.html | worknewspaper=The Washington Post | title=List of 'Willing' U.S. Allies Shrinks Steadily in Iraq | first=Joshua | last=Partlow | date=December 8, 2007 | access-date=2017-09-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130143529/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120702585.html | archive-date=2017-01-30 | url-status=live }}</ref> this number had fallen to 520 by October 2008. In a regular briefing on October 29, 2008, Won Tae-jae, a spokesman at the Ministry of Defense said, "The Zaytun army unit, stationed in the city of Arbil in northern Iraq, will begin pulling out of the country in early December, handing the mission over to U.S. troops, and will complete the withdrawal by around December 20, [2008]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/318969.html|title=S. Korea to withdraw troops from Iraq by year’syear's end|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926030454/http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/318969.html|archive-date=2017-09-26|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSEO7680920080919?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews | work=Reuters | title=All South Korea troops to leave Iraq by end of '08 | first=Jack | last=Kim | date=September 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-09/19/content_7042769.htm|title=All South Korea troops to leave Iraq by end of '08|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701133958/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-09/19/content_7042769.htm|archive-date=2016-07-01|url-status=live}}</ref> A farewell ceremony for the remainder of the South Korean contingent was held on December 1, 2008.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/world/middleeast/06iraq.html | work=The New York Times | title=Troop Pullout to Leave U.S. and Britain as Iraq Force | first=Alissa J. | last=Rubin |authorlink= author-link=Alissa J. Rubin | date=December 6, 2008 | access-date=2017-02-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516120452/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/world/middleeast/06iraq.html | archive-date=2013-05-16 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The main tasks of the South Korean contingent waswere to provide medical services and to build and repair roads, power lines, schools and other public infrastructure. The contingent included a small number of Muslim South Korean soldiers who converted to Islam just before their deployment.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=4716 Al Jazeera English - Archive - Police Protection For Korea's Muslims<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604231254/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=4716 |date=2011-06-04 }}</ref> The Koreans suffered only one fatality: an officer who committed suicide on the South Korean base in May 2007. The only other deaths attributed to their presence have been accidents involving both South Korean and Iraqi civilians.

[[Category:Iraq–SouthSouth Korea relationsin the Iraq War|*]]