Reservists in the gun over underwear incident

The controversial photo of reservists of a Gangwon Province-based university being disciplined in their underwear that appeared on various websites last week. / Yonhap

A photo of several dozen reservists of a Gangwon Province-based university being disciplined in their underwear has ignited controversy.

The picture was posted on various websites and shows the students in their underpants, with their military uniforms pulled down to their knees. They appear to be singing. In front of them are a dozen students clad in military reserve uniforms watching.

The photo started spreading on social networking sites last week and generated controversy as netizens criticized the culture of reservists at colleges.

Those in the picture were from a private university. They had finished their reservist drill for the day, had dinner at a nearby restaurant and had belched military songs in the street in their underwear.

The school’s student representative body apologized on Facebook, saying “We apologize for not having prevented such abhorrent practices from occurring.”

It said that, together with the school, it was forming a student committee to discuss the issue and take action.

The school said: “Because there aren’t rules that regulate such practices that occur outside of school, we will speak with the dean so that the department can provide regulations. The students themselves are sorry for the incident.”