ON JULY 1, 2023, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) officially permitted the use of smartphones in barracks[1]. Through numerous bold reforms, a hierarchical culture deeply ingrained in South Korea's military since the MND’s Defense Reform 2.0 seemed to be waning gradually[2]. However, recent statistics on the death toll of soldiers suggest otherwise. Suicide is being held accountable for being the leading cause of death, according to reports from the National Human Rights Commission of Korea[3]. This data compounded with the recent tragic death of a young soldier from the Republic of Korea Marine Corps has resulted in a public outcry for a more sophisticated and delicate approach to resolutely stamp out the extant irregularities in the Korean military[4].

The hazing culture in the military

   The events in television shows that center around the military are bringing new attention to the military culture in South Korea. For instance, on July 28, the highly anticipated second season of the popular Netflix show D.P. was released. This drama portrayed the ugly truths sealed in the deaths of military deserters, drawing public attention to real-life events and controversial deaths in the South Korean military[5].

   In response to the ghastly incidents pictured in such television shows about the military, the MND took up a defensive position. They announced in a regular briefing in September 2021 that the military environment is changing as they actively heed the voices of the soldiers[6]. The deputy spokesperson for the MND, Moon Hong-sik, further clarified by explaining that it would be difficult to conceal hazing incidents in the contemporary military environment since enlisted soldiers are now allowed to use their smartphones after service hours[7]. 

   Nevertheless, public outrage continues to build in Korea due to the frustration to know the truth about an incident on July 19 in which a soldier from the Marine Corps faced a tragedy while serving his country. During rescue operations, the soldier was swept away by a strong current and was found dead with no safety gear[1]. The probe undertaken by the Marine Corps had been inexplicably concluded hastily within a week without finding out with whom the responsibility lies[8]. The Korean government and the MND took a united stance and responded to this incident by assuring a thorough inspection to identify the cause of the incident. The Marine Corps also canceled the press briefing that had been previously announced to publicly disclose the details of the incident[1]. It was later reported that the investigation results were recorded by the investigation department of the Marine Corps. However, the following schedules had all been canceled under the instructions of the MND[9].

   This incident also sheds light on the inefficiencies of the military culture that demand absolute allegiance from soldiers. The safety of the soldiers, however, is often reported to be unguaranteed[10]. For instance, the Marine Corps was reported to have disregarded the instructions from fire authorities to refrain from forming human chains for safety reasons[11]. The traceable causes of death hover around the military's mishandling of the soldiers along with the commander’s unrealistic demands to deploy the soldiers in peril[12]. 

   The young soldier’s death also prompted further discussion on the lack of protection for and irresponsible treatment of soldiers[10]. Lim Tae-hoon, from the Center for Military Human Rights Korea, criticized the MND’s defensive position on the hazing culture in South Korea’s military and argued that the hazing incidents in 2014, for example, were at the level of those featured in horror movies[13]. Lim believes that, while it may look like conditions have improved in the military, the truly hideous problems remain intact behind closed doors. This is in accord with the viewpoints of a multitude of military experts who acutely criticized the MND for averting its responsibility[13]. Additionally, criticisms were made by some political figures, such as the Democratic Party of Korea’s leader, Lee Jae-myung, who took to social media to publicly condemn that such grotesque acts of violence in the Korean military are an evil of long-standing. Lee then resolutely urged for a change by specifically referring to a military hazing incident that involved an electric drill in 2021. He commented that a bad tradition rooted in Korean military culture has continued to be condoned and silenced within the military. Likewise, another member of the National Assembly, Heo Eun-a, took to Facebook to make a comment about the urgent need to implement a fundamental solution that has a substantive effect. She included references to another military incident in July 2021 when a soldier in the navy committed suicide after suffering severe abuse by his senior soldiers. Heo further expounded that it is not simply a memory of the past but rather an "ongoing issue" that persists even in the present[12].

   While the gravity of the abuse and hazing undergone by each and every Korean male who has served in the military may differ, the suicide rates of soldiers nevertheless call for stringent action and the acknowledgment of the multifaceted and complex nature of the issue.

Traces of truths

   The year 2014 is an emblematic period that sounded an alarm to the public about the deadly abuse within the South Korean military[14]. An incident involving a 20-year-old private Yoon, whose torture by his superiors could only end with his tragic death, shed light on the seriousness of military hazing to the public[13]. In the same year, a sergeant in his twenties attempted to take his own life after revolting against his bullies by shooting his comrades[15]. One of the bereaved family members of the victims—a former army surgeon—raised suspicions that the autopsy results suggested that some of the victims could have survived if only the follow-up measures taken by the military had been faster[12]. This eventually led to the revelation that the emergency helicopter had been delayed by as much as an hour[1]. This egregious error in the military’s response to the incident left five soldiers to die from excessive bleeding. 

   It is still contended whether the truth would have been announced to the public even if the bereaved family member had not voiced his suspicions regarding the delayed medical assistance. This, however, is not the first time that the Korean military has been accused of using “smoke and mirrors.” In 2021, a soldier made a valiant effort to confess on social media that he was physically abused—resulting in a fractured patella—by his seniors while playing futsal[16]. Furthermore, he confessed that, while he was being beaten, everyone else present at the scene assumed the attitude of an onlooker. The soldier was later strongly urged by the commissioned officer who inflicted injuries to hide the truth from everyone, including his own parents[16]. While there may be fine lines in judging the severity and gravity of problems revolving around the culture of the Korean military, the unceasing tragedies call for amendments to the systemic issues which are undeniably present in the Korean military culture.

A way ahead

   The efforts, however, to provide meaningful encouragement for brightening the prospects of improvement in military culture do not cease to exist. For instance, mobile phone use in the military has been officially permitted which, according to the media’s interviews with the soldiers in service, greatly improved life in the military[17]. There were concerns raised that the use of smartphones could weaken military discipline or result in leaks of internal information[18]. Nevertheless, it is anticipated to accommodate the interests of soldiers who wish to stay connected with society and possibly serve as a tool to report complaints[3]. 

   The importance of renovating military culture and ensuring a greater degree of freedom is also reinforced by Kim So-eun, who currently is undertaking an internship in the Department of Reform of Military Culture at the MND. In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, So-eun, who is in charge of directly taking care of civil complaints related to the military culture, explained her view that the use of smartphones will help in dwindling and easing the dissatisfaction in the military. However, she also notes the difficulties of judging the degree to which soldiers’ rights must be held in importance over military discipline, the clear line of command, and hierarchical structure—all of which are the essence of military identity. 

   While So-eun also recognizes the concerns and perspectives that this reform will lead to the disturbance of military discipline or weaken military security, she resolutely expounds that it is important to keep up with society. More specifically, she mentions that smartphones are widespread in use in the current society and senior military figures are already using smartphones. Therefore, completely restricting its usage will only result in soldiers feeling that limited smartphone use is unreasonable. 

   The Annals also interviewed Kim Min-ha, an intern from the Promotion Informatization Planning Division in the MND, who stated that what remains of paramount importance is the structural change of punitive systems. She explains that in the current system in place, it is difficult to assume responsibilities when problems erupt. This is because, once you accept those responsibilities, a chain of other problems follows that you are now in complete charge of. This, Min-ha explains, is the primary reason why everyone tries to avert the responsibilities and pass them on to each other, which eventually delays the entire process of solving the case. 

   She also comments that the incidents in 2014 should not be thought of as a common phenomenon in the Korean military that the public needs to be excessively concerned about. Yet, the hazing culture in the Korean military has not changed completely. Hence, Min-ha highlights that the fledgling efforts to improve is a big step and can bring substantial change to young soldiers’ lives during their service for the nation.

   Additionally, the report "A Commander's Guide to Hazing Prevention" released by a research institute, RAND Corporation, stresses the importance of clearly defining what "hazing" is[19]. Pursuant to the current Military Criminal Act, a person who abuses authority by committing a misdeed of severe treatment would be sentenced to under five years of imprisonment. However, the boundary of "severe treatment" is equivocal which could, therefore, obfuscate the victim’s decision whether to report the crime or not[20]. By providing clarity by not only providing a definition but also listing the common characteristics[19], the victimized soldiers may be able to better grasp whether certain acts constitute hazing or not.

   Soldiers who have served in the unit Deserter Pursuit (D.P.)—a division of military police that arrests deserters—have said that no deserters decide to escape from the military without heartbreaking stories of their own. Upon investigation into these deserters, they said that desertion is the only way out[21]. Under the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, Article 39 states that, “All citizens shall have the duty of national defense under the conditions as prescribed by Act[22].” The public, however, now calls for the nation to protect its soldiers and invest attention into implementing measures that root out the issues in the Korean military.

[1] Yonhap News Agency

[2] Korea Institute for Defense Analyses

[3] The Korea Herald

[4] Center for Military Human Rights Korea

[5] Korea JoongAng Daily

[6] The Chosun Ilbo

[7] Herald Media

[8] MBC News

[9] Kyunghyang Shinmun

[10] Kukmin Ilbo

[11] KBS

[12] JTBC News

[13] Topstarnews

[14] MoneyS

[15] BBC

[16] Pressian

[17] Civic News

[18] The Korea Economic Daily

[19] RAND Corporation

[20] Segye Ilbo

[21] KUKI News

[22] Constitution of the Republic of Korea