South Korea's advanced technology, and its widespread adoption, has changed the country's military.
Not only in the way it defends the South Korean people,... but also in terms of life on the front lines.
Kim Ji-yeon files this report from the inter-Korean border.
Almost everyone in South Korea has a smartphone,... and that includes the military.
This general outpost unit in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do Province... near the Demilitarized Zone,... whose main duty is to secure the inter-Korean border,... has been part of a test-run since January of the government's plan to allow soldiers to use smartphones while off duty.

"Allowing soldiers to use their smartphones is being cited as one of the biggest changes in the Korean military this year. The defense ministry says the policy will be applied to nearly all military units, during their off-duty hours and during the weekends."

Bluetooth, WIFI as well as smartphone hotspots and GPS functions are turned off for security reasons... and soldiers are not allowed to take pictures of military training.
The policy is mainly aimed at boosting communication among soldiers and their friends and family... as well as for educational purposes to prepare for their careers when soldiers complete their compulsory military service.

"I'm studying for the exam to get a position as a civil servant. Through smartphone apps, I'm gathering study materials and looking for classes to take."

Another change for the soldiers is their patrol duty.
Until now, heavily-armed soldiers had to walk day and night along the rugged border on foot... but those days are gone.
The unit in Yeoncheon-gun also says it has been using a highly sophisticated security system for the surveillance of the inter-Korean border.
Thermal observation devices, CCTV cameras... and optical units... were installed along the wire fence... to detect movement and the presence of humans.
When pressure is applied to one of the sensors, an alert goes out so that soldiers can inspect the area manually.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News, Yeoncheon.