By Lee Min-hyung
The father of a soldier who died during a military drill last month has donated money to a marine unit in which his son served.
The father, surnamed Lee, donated 10 million won ($9,100), half of the condolence money raised during his son’s funeral, to the Marine unit in Yeonpyeong Island, SBS news reported on Monday.
The report said Lee visited the unit with the money days after his son’s funeral, and met the unit’s commanding officer.
The officer offered to set up a tombstone for the soldier with the money, but Lee reportedly asked the officer to use the money for his son’s fellow soldiers.
Lee donated the rest of the condolence money to the high school and university where his son studied.
Late last month, the Ministry of National Defense said the Marine private first-class died due to chest compression while operating K9 self-propelled artillery.
A helicopter rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he died hours later.
The military is still trying to find the exact cause of death, but nothing has been confirmed.
Lee said he wanted no one to be punished for the accident.
Lee was especially concerned about his son’s fellow soldiers, as five of them have been receiving treatment for trauma.