'All soldiers' deaths should be respected'
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Justice Party Chairwoman Sim Sang-jung, center, and lawmaker Kim Jong-dae, right, proposed two revision bills, Monday, to expand support for those killed or injured while serving mandatory military service. / Yonhap
By Choi Ha-young
Justice Party Chairwoman Sim Sang-jung and lawmaker Kim Jong-dae proposed two revision bills, Monday, to expand support for those killed or injured while serving mandatory military service.
The two lawmakers held a press conference at the National Assembly with the parents of deceased soldiers to call for the passage of the revision bills, which they dubbed “Soldiers and Mothers Bills.”
According to the Military Personnel Management Act, those who commit suicide or die while not in battle are not qualified to receive compensation, even if they are in the military, which is obligatory for all able-bodied Korean men.
The law respects some suicide deaths that took place as a result of cruel treatment. However, examination of the cause of their deaths is up to the defense ministry, and the bereaved families should prove the soldier received maltreatment to receive government benefits.
“The nation conscripted my son, and suddenly informed us of his death out of nowhere. Then the military pressured us to cremate his body,” bereaved mother Kim Soon-bok said in a press statement.
“If the nation has the authority to draft our beloved sons by force, responsibility and apology should follow when they die. Civil society should be able to inspect the causes of their deaths,” she added in tears.
Statistics show 39,000 soldiers have died since 1948 and no honor followed the tragedies. In recent years, 100 to 150 soldiers per year on average die during military duty. “This means, every three days yet another mother will be crying next to me after losing her son,” Kim said.
Needless to say, no counseling is provided for the bereaved families, and their younger brothers are not exempted from military duty. “My youngest son, who vividly remembers his brother’s death, is now in the army. Without receiving a phone call from him, I cannot breathe easily,” another bereaved mother, Park Yoon-ja said.
The revised bill of the Military Service Act stipulates military exemption for brothers of the deceased.
The situation is not so different for commissioned officers. Park Young-soon’s son was serving as a captain. The ministry said he died in an accident after heavy drinking with his superiors. The Army escaped responsibility saying he was drinking voluntarily. “But who drinks on one’s own during a company get-together?” she said.
Rep. Sim, whose son is scheduled to enlist soon, vowed to pass the bill. “The mothers let their sons join the military, unlike some high-ranking officials who help their sons evade military service. I will do my best to ensure our sons’ safety when they are in the military,” the former presidential candidate of the progressive party said.
Rep. Kim Jong-dae, a military expert-turned-lawmaker, led the motion and some of the ruling party lawmakers joined hands with him. Even if the bill passes the Assembly, the bereaved families are not entitled to receive any benefits since the bill does not apply retroactively.