State ordered to compensate for soldier’s death over maltreatment

A Seoul court said Monday it has ordered the state to offer financial compensation to the family of an Army soldier who took his own live after suffering maltreatment from other military members.

The Seoul Central District Court ordered the payment of 60 million won (US$51,520) in compensation to the family of the private first class, identified only by his family name Lee, who committed suicide in November last year while serving his compulsory military term in the Army.

Lee's family filed the suit, blaming the suicide mainly on cruel verbal harassment of Lee while living in barracks.

"Senior soldiers repeated harsh treatment on him, including cursing, verbal abuse and strong rebuked that went beyond the scope of common discipline and training," the court said in the verdict. "These placed massive stress on Lee, who was introverted, and military executives did not make proper efforts to prevent his suicide."

The court added that the country is considered to have only 20 percent responsibility for Lee's death since the maltreatment he received was not overly excessive and Lee did not actively tried to solve his problem.

After being conscripted to the Army in August last year, Lee became a military driver after weeks of basic training. He jumped to his death in November after being repeatedly reprimanded for being unable to memorize the identities of military executives and other information needed to perform his duty.

In South Korea, all able-bodied male youth are required to serve approximately two years of military service as the country is still technically at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)