By Lee Min-hyung
A controversy is brewing over the death of an Army soldier, with a growing number of people signing an online petition demanding Cheong Wa Dae find the truth behind his death.
On Friday night, the Army private first-class was found unconscious in a toilet located near a guard post in Yanggu, Gangwon Province. He suffered a bullet wound to his head before passing away about half an hour after the incident.
According to the Army, he went to the toilet while on sentry duty. The military authority found his K2 assault rifle, and an empty cartridge, inside the toilet.
After hearing a gunshot, a squad commander rushed to the scene where he found the soldier, surnamed Kim, unconscious and bleeding on the floor with bullet wounds to his head, according to the Army.
“We are conducting an investigation, and will give details after finishing the investigation,” a military official said.
As of Monday, more than 130 people posted online petitions on the website of the presidential house, calling for a thorough investigation into the case. Most of them suspect that the military is attempting to cover up the incident as a suicide.
“It is suspicious that the military had de facto concluded that the North has nothing to do with the case even at a time when the two Koreas are dismantling guard posts near the border area,” an online user said in the online petition.
The Army said it has not detected any unusual signs from North Korea since the incident took place, saying that it does not view the North as responsible for the accident.
Such a view came as the two Koreas are on a rapid reconciliation, with both sides taking steps to ease military tension near border areas. Both sides will demolish 10 guard posts near the inter-Korean border on each side by the end of this month.
The military police and the Army's investigation team are conducting the investigation to find out the exact causes behind his death.
On Saturday, the Army conducted a forensic investigation of the scene with Kim's bereaved family.
Another petitioner said: “The public wants to know what caused his death, but the defense ministry announces North Korea has little to do with the incident before conducting an investigation.”
The Army said it has yet to find any suicide notes from Kim. The military authority also said Kim was on good terms with his fellow soldiers. Any signs of beating or harsh treatment from his senior soldiers have not been found, according to the military.