By Lee Kyung-min
An army reservist went on a shooting spree at a military training camp in Seocho, southern Seoul, Wednesday, killing two fellow reservists and injuring two others before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.
The shooter, surnamed Choi, 23, opened fire soon after being handed a magazine containing 10 bullets for his K-2 rifle at the Reserve Forces Training Center in Naegok-dong, according to military officials.
“He was standing in line and was about to go through regular zeroing fire,” an official said.
“He shot once toward the target and turned around with the loaded rifle and started shooting. It was a split-second incident,” the official said.
Choi fired seven shots at the victims before killing himself.
Among the four shot, one named Park, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head, was pronounced dead soon after being taken to Samsung Medical Center.
Another victim surnamed Yun, 24, who was shot in the head, died while undergoing treatment.
The other two, surnamed Hwang, 22, and Ahn, 25, were taken to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and Gangnam Severance Hospital, respectively.
No other casualties were reported among the 650 men mobilized at the training center.
The authorities found a suicide note in Choi’s right pants pocket. “I am getting obsessed with killing myself after killing others… I hate I am getting old and what I am now,” he said in the note.
The military authorities are investigating how the incident occurred.
“We have yet to determine how the shooting and subsequent casualties came about. We will question officers who were on the scene,” a military official said.
He said it may take some time to find out why Choi committed the shooting because of his suicide.
Choi completed his two-year compulsory military service in August 2013.
According to sources, Choi reportedly fell under the “extra attention-required” category during this period.
On a scale of A to C, with C being extensive care required, Choi was categorized as B, the source added.
Those who fall into such category are known for their inability to work as part of a group, have a lack of perseverance during extensive physical or mental training, and have a tendency to break down easily when subject to pressure, sources said.
Lacking such skills means they can often become ostracized for inadvertently becoming a nuisance toward colleagues
Apart from their two-year service, reservists are required to take part in an annual three-day training session for up to eight years.
Shooting incidents involving young men in the military are becoming more and more common here.
In June last year, an army sergeant surnamed Yun went on trial for killing five of his colleagues and wounding seven others.
In February, a military court handed down a death sentence to him. He has subsequently appealed the sentence.