Military should reaffirm safety commitments
In the span of two weeks, two Army recruits have tragically lost their lives.
An Army trainee soldier died, Saturday, two days after collapsing while undergoing training as a disciplinary measure at a unit in Inje, Gangwon Province. The suspected cause of death is heatstroke. The other soldier died on May 21 due to a grenade explosion during a training session at the Army’s 32nd Infantry Division in Sejong. Additionally, a platoon commander was injured in the incident.
In a country where all able-bodied men aged 18 to 35 are required to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, we are profoundly saddened and filled with remorse when such deaths occur. Their service protects and upholds our lives and our nation.
In the case of the Army trainee who died during disciplinary training, the Army has acknowledged that there is circumstantial evidence suggesting violations of Army regulations. Both the police and the military are investigating the incident. Given the
Army’s admission of potential regulatory breaches, it is imperative that a thorough investigation is conducted to uncover the truth.
The trainee soldier at the Inje unit had entered the military less than two weeks before his death. He and five others were undergoing a pack drill, which involved running and walking around an athletic field in full military gear, followed by push-ups, for about an hour before he collapsed. The purpose of a pack drill is to strengthen the spirit and mental state of soldiers, but there are specific regulations in place. According to those regulations, soldiers in full military gear should not be ordered to run during disciplinary actions, and when ordered to do push-ups, they should be gear-free.
The investigations should determine if there were violations of those regulations and whether the disciplinary training exceeded normal practices. The Center for Military Human Rights Korea said that others had warned the military official enforcing the disciplinary measure that the s
oldier did not look well, but those concerns were dismissed. Police and military officials should thoroughly examine every aspect of this incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As a divided nation, South Korea’s military is undeniably a vast organization that remains largely isolated from the civil sector despite improvements in barracks life such as allowing soldiers to use mobile phones after hours. In this hierarchical and disciplined environment, there is a tendency to treat lower-ranking soldiers as mere subordinates. In the event of accidents and resulting loss of lives, it’s crucial to conduct a transparent investigation to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Accountability should be enforced rigorously, particularly in cases of attempted cover-ups, with punishment reflecting the severity of the offense, while also considering due process in investigations. The military had seen a decline in deaths, including accidents and suicides, for some time around 2020. However, there has
been a recent uptick, with 103 cases reported in 2021 and 93 cases in 2022. What’s particularly troubling is the apparent disregard for safety protocols. Last July, a Marine involved in a flood search and rescue operation tragically lost his life because he was deployed without a life vest. The investigation into his death has sparked a political controversy between the ruling and opposition parties. These tragic deaths of young conscripts deeply resonate with the Korean public, highlighting concerns about safety within the military.
Over the years, the conscription service period has been shortened, and improvements have been made to the military environment for young men in the barracks. It’s imperative that the military prioritizes the safety and security of these draftees to the fullest extent possible. The ongoing police and military investigations into recent incidents should be conducted with transparency and fairness, aiming to provide comfort and reassurance to the grieving families.
Source: Yonha
p News Agency