Marine Corps recruit goes AWOL, caught at Daejeon station after 4 hours on KTX

A private in the Marine Corps' 1st Division, based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, went AWOL during his unit orientation period and was apprehended about four hours later.

According to the Marine Corps on Tuesday, the recruit, identified only by the surname initial A, scaled a wall and fled the base Saturday afternoon.

Fellow Marines noticed A was missing, reported his absence and confirmed the desertion after reviewing closed-circuit television footage.

After leaving the base, A made his way to Pohang station and boarded a KTX train bound for Seoul.

Military police analyzed CCTV footage near the base and along his route, confirmed he had traveled to Pohang station, and coordinated with railway police and other relevant agencies.

They apprehended A at Daejeon station roughly four hours after he had boarded the train.

At the time, the private had completed basic training and was undergoing an orientation program designed to help new recruits adjust to their assigned unit.

The orientation runs for three to seven days after recruits finish training and before they are formally assigned to operational duties, helping new Marines familiarize themselves with the unit's atmosphere and discipline alongside fellow recruits. A's orientation had run from Monday through Friday of last week.

"The unit will investigate the circumstances of the unauthorized absence and take strict action in accordance with the law and regulations," a Marine Corps official said.