"20-Year-Old Soldier Diagnosed with 'Rare Disease' After Pfizer Vaccination Says 'I Want to Stop Living'"

'Autoimmune Encephalitis' Diagnosis
Final Decision on 'Early Discharge' Scheduled for This Week

Private Kim Seong-wook undergoing hospital treatment. The photo shows a much improved condition. Private Kim has permitted the disclosure of his blindness and face. /Photo by Yonhap News, provided by Private Kim [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The story of a 20-year-old soldier who contracted a rare disease and was discharged early after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine while in the military has been shared.

According to the Army Headquarters on the 25th, Private Kim Seong-wook (20), who enlisted in January this year and was assigned to the Army's 11th Division in Gangwon Province, has been battling autoimmune encephalitis since early June after receiving the Pfizer vaccine.

Autoimmune encephalitis is an extremely rare disease in which immune cells, which are supposed to defend against bacteria and pathogens, instead attack the brain of the body. The treatment period varies by individual but can last at least 2 to 3 years or even a lifetime.

On the 25th, Yonhap News released an interview with Private Kim, who has been fighting autoimmune encephalitis since early June after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Private Kim enlisted in January in good health. He was then assigned to the Army's 11th Division in Gangwon Province, but developed autoimmune encephalitis after the vaccine in June.

It was reported that Private Kim was not in good health even at the time of vaccination. He underwent surgery to remove a metal pin from his ankle and a spinal nerve block at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in April and June, and received the vaccine while his body was not fully recovered.

After being diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis following vaccination, Private Kim has repeatedly lost consciousness and collapsed. Until just a few months ago, he would lose consciousness and collapse once a day for about a minute.

Fortunately, his condition has improved significantly with outpatient treatment at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, but he has already collapsed three times this month. On the 22nd, he collapsed in an alley while going to a hospital outpatient appointment. Since it was a secluded area, when he woke up and got up by himself, his upper clothes were torn and his whole body was covered in dust.

Private First Class Kim Sung-wook of the Army. He has permitted the disclosure of his real name and face. / Photo by Private First Class Kim, Yonhap News Agency

The Armed Forces Capital Hospital judged in September that "Private Kim has been diagnosed with a physical and mental disability, making military service difficult." Accordingly, the Army Headquarters is holding a discharge review committee, and his discharge is expected to be decided by the end of this week, with him returning to civilian status next month.

However, even though a healthy young man contracted a rare disease during military service and is being discharged, he may suddenly collapse again at any time, and his speech has become slurred, making normal life difficult. Yet the military has not yet presented any concrete compensation measures.

Yonhap News pointed out, "The Army Headquarters, the Armed Forces Medical Command, and the Armed Forces Capital Hospital are directly involved parties, but according to our investigation, there has been no proper consultation regarding compensation measures such as treatment after Private Kim’s discharge," and "all parties were quick to shift responsibility."

Private Kim said, "I want to give up everything now and just stop living. It’s really hard. Even if I am discharged, I don’t know if I can get a job, and if I can’t work, I don’t know how I will pay hospital bills. I don’t need compensation money or anything; I just want to be recognized as a national merit recipient."

He continued, "The military said they would prepare support measures, but they are discharging me without any action. I can’t trust them. Yesterday, my parents cried and told me to live healthily, which hurt my heart so much, but I didn’t want to show weakness and held back my tears," adding, "I’m only 20 years old, and my situation is so sad."

He also added, "If I hadn’t gone to the military, I wouldn’t be sick and would be living well. It’s unfair. I’m worried, but my family is even more worried."

Meanwhile, a representative from the Armed Forces Medical Command explained, "Even if Private Kim is discharged, he can receive treatment cost support as if he were active duty for six months according to regulations. After that, compensation review and application for national merit support through the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will be reviewed and decided by the Army Headquarters."