According to the army, early yesterday morning (23), Private A from the Air Defense Battalion of the 51st Division in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province was found dead in the unit. A was discovered to have passed away during the guard duty shift in the early hours of the day. It has been reported that no signs of foul play or criminal suspicions were found at the scene.
Currently, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency and military authorities are investigating the circumstances of Private A’s death. The investigation will also include whether there were any incidents of bullying, verbal abuse, or harassment within the unit.
A military police vehicle entering the sentry post of the 12th Division of the Army in Inje, Gangwon Province. Recently, a trainee collapsed and died during military training at this unit.〈Photo=Yonhap News〉
On the day of Private A’s death yesterday, a post titled ‘Mother of the deceased in the 51st Division’ was shared on an online military communication forum. Believed to be written by A’s family, the post emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the matter, stating, “This cannot be overlooked under any circumstances” and “The truth must be thoroughly unraveled.” It also included a plea for everyone to pay attention and watch over the situation.
Just 9 days after entering the recruit training camp last month, a trainee collapsed and died during military training, and prior to that, another trainee died due to a grenade explosion during training, marking a series of recent incidents involving the deaths of military personnel.