Thai Colonel Leads Rescue in South Korea

A Thai army colonel has received praise in South Korea after helping rescue an injured truck driver following a road crash near the Sinpung rest area. Col Srisawat Sriprakhon, an officer student, at the National Defense College of the Republic of Korea under the Royal Thai Army’s Directorate of Civil Affairs, joined allied military officers in the roadside rescue on Friday, May 15.

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The accident happened while Col Srisawat was travelling back from the 2026 KNDU-NDU-NIDS Trilateral Security Conference in Seoul. He was returning to accommodation at the Korea National Defense University in Nonsan with military officers from India and Vietnam, along with a vehicle supervisor and driver, making a total of five personnel.

The group had attended the conference at Harmony Hall on the fifth floor of the Rokaus Hotel in Seoul’s Yongsan district. About 45 kilometres before reaching Nonsan, they encountered a truck that the driver had lost control and overturned in the middle of the road.

Col Srisawat and the other officers immediately stopped their vehicle and rushed to assist. An initial inspection found the driver seriously injured, unconscious and trapped inside the truck.

The officers worked together to break a window, unlock the vehicle door and safely remove the driver from the overturned truck. They also cleared scattered debris from the road and helped manage traffic at the scene to reduce the risk of further collisions.

Three South Korean civilians later joined the rescue effort and assisted the officers in caring for the injured driver until emergency services arrived. The rescue operation lasted around 30 minutes and drew praise for the quick response and cooperation shown by the Thai, Indian and Vietnamese officers. Reports highlighted the public-minded actions and teamwork demonstrated during the emergency response.

The incident also drew attention to the role of international military cooperation beyond formal defence activities, as officers attending a regional security conference became directly involved in an emergency rescue operation while travelling in South Korea.

The Nation reported that authorities have not released further details about the cause of the crash or the driver’s condition. No injuries among the rescue team were reported.

Pictures courtesy of The Nation

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 18 May 2026

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