Serving in the military is inevitable and mandatory for any Korean man who reaches their 20s. Many South Koreans take big pride in having served their country; in most cases, a young Korean boy is considered to truly have become a “man” after they enlist. However, the mandatory military service period is not a favorable time for most; there is more than what the public can observe. Behind closed doors masked by patriotism and abuse, humiliating and traumatic events happen that leave these young soldiers with life-long scars. With conscription being mandatory in Korea, the rising cases of abuse in the military is a key issue that needs to be resolved to protect all Korean soldiers through thick and thin.

Abuse cases in the military are not new in South Korea. Now and then, a new case of maltreatment in the military surfaces and shocks citizens. Korea’s society relies heavily on hierarchical orders and obedience between the superior and the junior, and the military is no exception. The Korean military has maintained a culture of rigid hierarchy combined with toxic masculinity, which can lead to sexual abuse, severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and social isolation. This can further lead to suicide in serious cases where the system fails the soldiers in providing the necessary support they need. According to Asia News Network, about 150 soldiers and civilian military personnel have lost their lives over the past year, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death – 44.9 percent, or 66 cases in total.

Hidden In Plain Sight

This ongoing system of abuse is particularly concerning given that these military bases are home to many soldiers for at least 18 months. An example of such abuse inflicted upon soldiers was described in a report to the Korean army in February this year. It mentioned how a noncommissioned officer tortured a soldier by drilling his arm with an electric drill, causing a severe injury. The case was first reported by the soldier to the head of his platoon, but the case did not proceed any further within his unit, nor did the abuser receive any punishment. Only after the victim reported the issue directly to the Ministry of National Defense (MND) did the case receive a proper investigation.

Only three months after the first incident, on May 7, a reported case of a 21-year-old soldier in the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) attempting suicide in Paju, Gyeonggi-do shocked the media. The victim was moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) after the incident, but he remained unconscious. His family testified that the reason behind the soldier’s action was the constant bullying and abuse from his military superiors, as he had no mental health issues prior to enlisting. However, the ROKAF denied all the bullying allegations.

These cases are just the tip of the iceberg. A 2021 survey by Global Research, a local pollster commissioned by Representative Lee Soo-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), focused on men between the ages of 20 to 30. The survey revealed that 59.8 percent of the respondents faced some form of abuse or mistreatment during their compulsory military time. The report further exposed that in 72 percent of the reported cases, abusers did not receive proper punishment.

Military Abuse: Dangerous for All Soldiers

Furthermore, this does not only affect the male soldiers. Lee Ye-ram was a female ROKAF Master Sergeant who was sexually abused and died of suicide in May 2021. Lee got molested by a senior officer in her troop after returning from a dinner that she was forced to attend. She requested a transfer to another unit after the incident, and she also suffered from anxiety and insomnia. In the end, it was only after Lee took her own life that a trial was held, and the superior finally got convicted to seven years in prison. “The government only takes action after a major incident happens, but they never take pre-emptive measures,” Justice Party’s Bae Bok-joo told Korea Pro. “Politicians only took action after Lee committed suicide.”

Lee Sang-hyeon (‘19, English Language and Literature), a Korea University (KU) student who was recently discharged, disclosed in an interview with The Granite Tower (GT) about his personal experience. “There were not any specific bullying cases that I witnessed during my military time, but there were some rumors that things were radically different before I arrived. Minor physical tortures were regularly neglected by peers whenever a senior member of the platoon decided to pick on some misbehaving juniors, and some unwritten bans were in place against members under certain ranks using various military facilities, including post exchanges (PX) – the military equivalent of a convenience store. However, our generation was in the midst of a fundamental change in such a disrespectful culture particularly within our battalion. By the time it was my turn to get discharged, there were noticeable changes in the way each battalion member treated one another regardless of difference in ranks.” Lee’s remarks highlighted the profound insight that concerted efforts have been discernible endeavors aimed at reshaping power dynamics and curbing instances of abuse within the armed forces.

According to Article 62 of the Military Criminal Act, those who abuse their power to mistreat juniors, victim-blame, and bystanders are to be punished with imprisonment and hard labor for up to five years. However, the aforementioned real-life examples reveal the ugly truth that these laws are still not enough to protect soldiers from abuse. Even though Korean citizens are generally aware of the mistreatment in the military, it is still overlooked by the justice system. Promoting mental health awareness and providing support services within the military are crucial steps that can be taken. If the government does not take the proper measures to protect soldiers’ rights and things are merely dismissed in a this is how things are done in the army manner, South Korea has a high chance of waking up to more horrifying news, and it is inevitable that more will be sacrificed.