A South Korean Military Recruit Collapsed After Receiving Military Training and Died Two Days Later
According to the South Korean Army, at approximately 5:20 PM on May 23, one of six trainees undergoing military training at a unit in Inje, Gangwon Province, collapsed. The trainee was urgently transported to a civilian hospital for treatment, but his condition worsened, and he passed away on the afternoon of May 25.
Military training refers to physical and mental exercises directed by commanders to establish military discipline according to regulations and procedures. It is carried out when commanders point out issues and is also known as ”punishment training.“ The deceased trainee reportedly underwent this training, which involved running around a drill field with full gear.
The Military Human Rights Center claims that the trainee exhibited signs of health problems, but the supervising officer ignored them. They argue that the excessive punishment without considering the trainee‘s health condition led to his death, and they are calling for a thorough investigation. According to reports, on the evening of May 22, the six trainees were punished for talking at night. The next afternoon, they were made to run around the drill field with full gear. While running, other trainees noticed that one trainee looked unwell and reported this to the supervising officer, but no action was taken, and the punishment continued.
This issue has caused a stir in South Korea. Opinions are divided between those who believe that the military, as an institution preparing for the worst-case scenario of war, inevitably faces accidents and thus not all blame can be assigned, and those who believe that violating health signals and enforcing excessive punishment are clear breaches of regulations.
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