Private who died during in-country training recognized as 'fallen in the line of duty'

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A private first class who was found dead during cold-weather training at an Army unit's parade ground in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, has been recognized as having died in the line of duty. The cold-weather training involves setting up tents on the parade ground and sleeping there to acclimate to the cold before the harsh winter training.

A private who was found dead during winter training at an army base parade ground in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, has been recognized as having died in the line of duty.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Army on the 16th, the Army held a Regular Meritorious Service Review Committee on the 13th and decided that the death of Private First Class A, who was found dead during training at a unit in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, at 6:54 a.m. on the 12th of this month, was in the line of duty. The committee judged that since Private A died during education and training, it was a line-of-duty death.

Private A had been sleeping in a tent set up on the parade ground within the unit for cold-weather training, but when he did not wake up, a fellow soldier in the same tent found him and alerted those nearby. The military and police are investigating the exact cause of death through autopsy and tissue examination. According to the military, Private A was diagnosed with COVID-19 four days after being assigned to his unit and was released from quarantine after nine days. He then immediately joined the training on the 11th and died.

The government urgently instructed the Ministry of National Defense to "thoroughly investigate the cause and disclose it transparently, as this incident occurred while fulfilling the duty of national defense."