The South Korean Marine Corps graduated its 1,000th class last week ― 56 years after its first class in 1949 ― at the Marine Corps Training Academy in Pohang, North Gyeongsang province. Training sessions for recruits are held every 15 days. Since its founding almost six decades ago, 630,000 men have served as enlistees and 200,000 as non-commissioned and commissioned officers. There currently are 27,000 marines on active duty.

The path to becoming an invincible marine, however, is not an easy one.

After five days of physical examinations, new recruits have their hair cut and start basic training ― the beginning of the making of ghost catchers. Rigorous is not the right word to describe the training, which tests human limits.

Before and after every meal, trainees do pull-ups and push-ups. Physical and mental toughness is a must for marines, whose missions require securing bridgeheads in enemy territory. Along with air assault and raid drills, trainees go through landing exercises.