Soldiers of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command conduct tactical ski maneuvers during a snow and cold-weather survival training exercise, practicing rapid movement across snow-covered terrain. The drill, known as the “Snow and Cold-Weather Survival Training,” has been running from January through February in rotating cycles, with each unit completing an 11-day, 12-night program in the highlands around Daegwallyeong and Hwangbyeongsan in Gangwon Province.
Held at elevations exceeding 1,400 meters, the training places troops in sustained exposure to blizzards, strong winds, and wind-chill temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius. According to the Army, the goal is to sharpen winter special operations capabilities under conditions that closely mirror combat in snowbound terrain.
Current participants include soldiers from the Invincible Typhoon Battalion of the command’s Biho Brigade, who began their rotation on January 12. Training runs continuously, day and night, focusing on survival, mobility, and mission execution in extreme cold, including tactical ski operations.
Special forces missions are designed to be conducted covertly deep inside enemy territory. Reflecting this, the exercise follows a full operational sequence: infiltration into hostile rear areas, concealment and hide-site operations, special reconnaissance and airstrike coordination, direct-action raids, evasion and escape, and long-range movement using tactical skis.
Soldiers of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command observe the movement of a high-value target using a multi-function optic and coordinate airstrike guidance during a snow and cold-weather survival training exercise.
To heighten realism, veteran special forces operators were employed as an opposing force throughout all phases of training. Acting as a simulated enemy special unit, the opposing force conducted surveillance, interdiction, and attack scenarios, placing constant pressure on trainees and recreating battlefield conditions.
Troops began by traversing snow-covered mountains to infiltrate enemy rear areas. During daylight, teams built concealed hide sites using snow and natural materials, conducting observation and refining mission plans on site. At night, they prepared underground snow shelters to remain hidden while planning follow-on operations.
In special reconnaissance and air-control drills, soldiers used advanced observation equipment to identify key targets and relay data to higher headquarters, enabling the simulated direction of airpower. The exercise also integrated drones to detect enemy hideouts and guard posts, reflecting the growing role of unmanned systems on the modern battlefield.
During direct-action phases, teams breached obstacles with explosives, rapidly cleared access routes, and assaulted enemy command posts, honing close-quarters combat and strike capabilities. Following mission completion, troops conducted evasion and escape training, moving along routes of up to 20 kilometers while carrying packs weighing nearly 40 kilograms. The marches lasted up to 12 hours in extreme cold, reinforcing endurance and survival procedures.
Soldiers of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command conduct a special direct-action assault during a snow and cold-weather survival training exercise.
Tactical ski training was conducted in parallel, with teams maneuvering in formation, adapting movement patterns, avoiding simulated enemy fire, and suppressing opposing forces upon contact.
“This training proved that every member became one team through comradeship, overcoming the same weather and terrain we would face in a real winter battlefield,” said Master Sergeant Kim Un-sung, a senior noncommissioned officer in the unit. “It gave us confidence that we can accomplish any mission, anytime and anywhere.”
Lieutenant Colonel Park Gi-geun, commander of the Invincible Typhoon Battalion, said morale remained high despite the harsh conditions. “Even in extreme cold, the passion of our soldiers made the training ground hotter than anywhere else,” he said, adding that the unit would continue striving to fulfill its mission as a force “devoted to the nation and its people, and an irreplaceable special operations force of world-class standard.”
The Army said it will closely analyze the results of the exercise and incorporate lessons learned into future training programs, as it continues efforts to cultivate elite special forces grounded in fundamentals and advanced combat skills.
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