South Korean students hoping to get in shape and improve their discipline braved the sweltering summer heat on Wednesday… attending a boot camp run by a special commando group.<br /><br />Instead of relaxing during the annual summer break, more than 200 students joined the marine-style boot camp in Buchon, west of Seoul.<br /><br />The camp aims to test their physical and mental endurance through eight hours of daily activities such as dragging parachutes, running with rubber boats on their shoulders, and jumping from a 40 foot tower.<br /><br />"Defensive falls were a very hard part of the training and trench battles were interesting. After this four-day training, I will be ready to march toward my aim with better preparedness." <br /><br />In the afternoon the temperature began to heat up.<br /><br />"It's tough and sometimes I lose my temper, but I feel I get something out of it. It's difficult to train, but I know I can get over my limitations with very good physical exercise."<br /><br />The army has been running these boot camps since 2003, with approximately 17,000 participants.<br /><br />"Through this camp run by our special commando group, our military, we like to show we are strong but kind and we like our participants to have a valuable opportunity to get confidence and self-restraint, spirit and patriotism." <br /><br />South Korean men must complete 24 months of military service after graduating from high school and before they turn 30.
