SEOUL, Army investigators on Tuesday transferred to the civilian police the case over a trainee soldier who died two days after collapsing during a discipline session last week.
The soldier was rushed to a civilian hospital on Thursday after collapsing during the session at a unit in Inje County, 126 kilometers northeast of Seoul. He died two days later after his condition worsened.
The conscript, who joined the Army on May 13, was reportedly ordered to run around the unit’s training ground in full combat gear, although discipline training rules only allow soldiers to march in such equipment.
He was also reportedly instructed to do push-ups in full gear, when regulations only allow soldiers to be ordered do so without wearing equipment.
Army officials, including the company commander who ordered the training, are known to have been present at the site. Discipline training usually takes place when soldiers commit minor violations of rules or their commander’s orders.
Army spokesperson Seo Woo-seok told a
regular briefing that a joint probe between the Army and the civilian police identified problematic issues with the discipline training in terms of rules and procedures.
Under the law, the military is to hand over a case involving a troop fatality to the police if there are signs of any criminal activity.
A military source said the soldier’s autopsy partially showed signs he suffered symptoms akin to rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which muscles break down and can even lead to death. Excessive exercise and heat stress are among its causes.
“As the cause of death is currently difficult to make clear, blood and other tests will additionally take place,” the source said.
All able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve at least 18 months in the military in a country facing constant military threats from North Korea.
Source: Yonhap News Agency