Why is This Happening?

There have been many incidents in the Army recently: a shooting rampage in the base near the North Korean border, suicide by a deserter, and trainees deserting three days after entering.

On June 19, around 7:15 p.m., in Seomun-dong, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, an innkeeper, Yun (83), found Army private Kim (21) hanging inside his room and duly reported it to the police.

Inside private Kim’s notebook found in the room were the words, “I was beaten. It was so embarrassing to be hit in front of so many people. I can’t stand it.” The police notified the military police, and the authorities are investigating private Kim’s platoon to find out whether there had been harsh physical actions against him.

He was on vacation for three days and four nights for dental treatment, but did not return to his barracks and instead stayed at an inn near his home.

Meanwhile, the Busan police of Sasang-gu captured two deserters, Kim (20) and Park (20), two deserters from the Changwon army training base in Gyeongsangnam-do, at the west bus terminal in Gamjeon-dong, Busan at 2:00 a.m. on June 20, and transferred them to the custody of military police.

The two men snuck out of their barracks around midnight and boarded a bus to Busan from the Masan bus terminal and were captured by the Busan police.

The two men entered the training center on June 16, and had yet to be assigned to a base.

They stated, “We were tired and lacking sleep. There were things in society we have not yet experienced.”

Dong-Bin Seok Jang-Ki Woo mobidic@donga.com straw825@donga.com