Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Military under scrutiny after spate of soldier deaths
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back presides over a commanders’ meeting on military discipline at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, Sept. 5. Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
By Bahk Eun-ji
Four recent firearm-related deaths in the military have raised the alarm over lax safety procedures and insufficient mental health protections for soldiers.
While the Ministry of National Defense has ordered a rare, comprehensive inspection of all units, pressure is mounting for more substantive reforms.
On Saturday, a Marine Corps corporal from the 6th Brigade was found dead of a gunshot wound inside a vehicle on Daecheong Island, about 160 kilometers west of Seoul. He had just returned from a coastal patrol. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead less than two hours later.
Investigators from the military, police, and the National Human Rights Commission conducted a joint inquiry at the scene and reported finding no signs of foul play.
Attention quickly focused on whether safety protocols had been overlooked and why the rifle was loaded with live rounds. The Marine Corps confirmed that the soldier’s funeral was held at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital with the family’s consent.
The incident came on the heels of three other recent deaths.
On Aug. 23, a sergeant at a front-line guard post died from a gunshot wound. On Sept. 2, a captain at the Korea Army Academy in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, left his base with a rifle and live ammunition and later took his own life. Less than a week later, on Sept. 8, a staff sergeant in a communications unit was found dead after leaving a note.
Gaps in oversight and weapons control were evident in each case. Supervision of firearm use at the guard post was deemed lax, while at the Army Academy, officers failed to detect the unauthorized removal of a rifle. Critics argue that the pattern points to systemic shortcomings rather than isolated errors.
The Ministry of National Defense announced a two-week special inspection beginning Tuesday, covering every unit down to the platoon level. The review will examine the handling of firearms and ammunition, accident prevention during training and operations and the effectiveness of emergency medical and counseling systems. The army has also launched a study on applying the Serious Accident Punishment Act to the military, which could hold officials legally accountable for safety breaches.
Lawmakers and analysts have warned that the problem goes beyond poor enforcement. “Finding such flaws in the control of weapons and ammunition, areas where discipline should be the strictest, is deeply troubling," said Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party and a member of the National Assembly Defense Committee. "Senior leaders must recognize the gravity of this situation and overhaul the safety system at the top.”
Mental health risks are also a cause for concern.
Experts say psychological strain is affecting not only conscripts but also officers and noncommissioned officers. Baek Myung-jae, a psychiatrist at Kyung Hee University Hospital who previously served as a military doctor, said current counseling programs cannot effectively reach every unit.
Recently, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told commanders to strengthen suicide prevention measures. However, the repeated tragedies in quick succession have cast doubt on the military's ability to deliver meaningful change. Some within the ranks admit to despair, saying it feels as if there is “no cure or vaccine” against further losses.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide, contact Korea's Suicide Crisis hotline at 109. For foreign language assistance to connect with mental health professionals, call Danuri Portal's helpline at 1577-1366.