“Training guest security guides through war, military and security education and interpretation practice”
On the 28th, the Yongsan War Memorial in Seoul announced it will recruit students for the KWO Professional Security Course, an education program focused on war, the military, and national security. The KWO Professional Security Course is a specialized security education program for adults in South Korea. It assembles distinguished scholars and security practitioners to give participants a wide-ranging view of the country’s security: past, present and future. Classroom lectures are paired with hands-on interpretation practice in the War Memorial’s exhibition halls. After completing the course and passing a separate evaluation, participants may be certified as War Memorial–authorized guest security guides.
The program is intended to develop security interpreters through instruction in war, military affairs, and national security. In 2025 the course ran twice—training 20 students in the first half and 30 in the second—and ultimately certified 30 security guides. Since August 2025, graduates have volunteered as guides in the War History Hall and the Korean War Hall on weekends and holidays, helping connect visitors with the Memorial’s exhibits. The 2026 course will be offered once a year.
Instructors include Choi Yun-hee (President, Maritime Federation; former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Lee Jun-seong (professor, Kyungpook National University), Lee Jin-han (professor, Korea University), Shin Yun-ho (research fellow, Naval Academy Ocean Research Institute), Cho Beom-rae (researcher, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs), Lee Nak-jun (writer and broadcaster), Park Dong-chan (senior researcher, Military History Compilation Research Institute), Park Tae-gyun (chair, Seoul National University Institutional Innovation Committee), and Kim Hyun-jung (curator, National Jinju Museum).
The course runs 12 weeks, from June 13 to September 5, meeting Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The course fee is 100,000 KRW (about $75). After review, selected graduates will receive a security-guide certificate and may serve as guest guides at the War Memorial.
Applications are open until 5:00 p.m. on the 15th of next month. For application procedures and full course details, visit the War Memorial website (www.warmemo.or.kr).
