"Wake Up, Because of You"... What the Company Commander Said to the Fallen 'Eolcharyeo Death Trainee'

Military Human Rights Center Releases Death Certificate, Trainee Said "Sorry" When Briefly Regaining Consciousness

In relation to the death of an Army trainee during harsh disciplinary training (commonly known as Eolcharyeo), it has been revealed that the company commander who ordered the training scolded the collapsed trainee by saying, "Get up, the others can't move because of you."

On the 12th, the Military Human Rights Center held a press conference at their office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and disclosed the deceased trainee's death certificate and medical records. According to the medical records from Gangneung Asan Hospital, the direct cause of death was recorded as 'septic shock,' while the death certificate listed the direct cause as 'multiple organ failure,' with the underlying cause specified as 'heatstroke.'

According to the Center's explanation, trainee A collapsed on the 23rd of last month while undergoing about 50 minutes of Eolcharyeo, which violated regulations, including running in full combat gear, push-ups, and jogging, along with five other trainees. A medic who saw this rushed over to check the collapsed trainee's pulse. At that time, the company commander who ordered the disciplinary training reportedly said something to the effect of, "Get up, the others can't move because of you."

Im Tae-hoon, director of the Military Human Rights Center, criticized, "Isn't it common sense to ask if someone is okay when they collapse?" He added, "This statement implies that the trainee collapsed and therefore couldn't continue the harsh training, which is a highly problematic remark." He further stated, "Such an attitude likely drove the trainee to death."

Additionally, trainee A was reportedly in a state of drowsiness (constantly falling asleep) during transport but briefly regained consciousness and mentioned his name, discomfort in his body, and apologized.

On the same day, the Center raised concerns about the company commander who ordered the Eolcharyeo sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle transporting the trainee to the hospital. This raises the possibility that the perpetrator of the harsh treatment, who was responsible for escorting the patient, may have failed to properly convey or may have downplayed the circumstances before and after the incident to the medical institution.

Furthermore, the Center questioned the absence of medical records from the recruit training center, which was the first place the trainee visited after collapsing. Director Im stated, "The trainee's bereaved family visited a military hospital on the 11th and requested a copy of the medical records from the recruit training center's medical office but were told that no medical records existed," adding, "The absence of records constitutes a violation of the Military Health Care Act."