The incident in which a late 20s corporal received a punishment of living alone in a secluded lodge and was found dead after 17 days for unknown reasons has raised criticism of the military authorities for their inadequate response. The corporal, identified as A (21), was found dead at an information unit barracks on November 11 last year. A had been isolated for disciplinary reasons and had been living alone in a temporary lodging about 100m away from the main unit since October 26. Despite signs of neglect in the unit’s management, the investigation into the incident has yet to be resolved even after 10 months.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, A did not participate in morning roll calls as is customary and was only discovered in the afternoon when an officer coincidentally found him after coming to look for something. A post-mortem conducted by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation indicated an undetermined cause of death, with a possibility of “sudden death syndrome in young adults.” Although the military police concluded that the death was not criminally related, there are calls for further investigation due to the unclear circumstances surrounding A’s death and the negligence in basic unit duties.
Despite the need for disciplinary actions against unit personnel and further investigation by civilian authorities, there has been no progress in these areas even after 10 months since the incident occurred. Criticism has been raised regarding the military’s handling of the case and the exercise of command authority, especially as A was left alone for 17 days before his death, raising concerns about the excessive exercise of authority beyond the 15-day moral support period as stipulated in military laws. Members of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, such as the lawmaker Huh Young from the Democratic Party, have emphasized the importance of a thorough reevaluation of the internal disciplinary process and the possible transfer of the case to civilian investigative agencies for a proper investigation.