"Why Blame the Innocent?"... Retired General Opposes Arrest of Company Commander in 'Eolcharye Death' Case

'Death from Physical Training' One Month Later, Company Commander and Deputy Company Commander Arrested
Retired Lieutenant General Says "Do Not Arrest the Company Commander"

On the 21st, the company commander and deputy company commander, who were accused of conducting military discipline training (Eolcharyeo) in violation of regulations in the death case of a recruit in the Army's 12th Division, were arrested. On the same day, a retired general claimed, "Do not arrest them," arguing that "if they are arrested, military training will cease and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces will be defeated."

Retired Army Major General Moon Young-il posted a lengthy statement on the website of the Republic of Korea Voice Actors Association, a group of retired generals, on the 21st. Moon said, "First, I pray for the repose of the fallen soldier and sincerely offer my condolences to his parents," but also pointed out, "I am deeply disappointed and greatly regret that the military prosecution and military judicial system, rather than the civilian legal system, have uniquely charged the death during training as 'negligent homicide' against the training officers who made every effort to complete their assigned duties."

He also stated, "There is no criminal offense under the Penal Code for the company commander or deputy company commander who conducted the training," adding, "A strong unit cannot neglect training just because Eolcharyeo is not stipulated in the regulations." He continued, "The soldier's death cannot simply be concluded as caused by Eolcharyeo training and lack of appropriate measures on site," and questioned, "Why do all institutions try to impose innocent responsibility on the company commander who completed his mission and took all necessary measures?"

Retired Major General Moon explained, "Basically, in peacetime, the military must train as if in actual combat with the resolve that 'a drop of sweat in training saves a bucket of blood in war,'" and "Although all accident prevention measures are taken during training, death may occur due to unavoidable circumstances, and in such cases, it is honored as a noble sacrifice, that is, a death in service, and the state takes appropriate measures." He added, "The victim's family must be going through unbearable pain as if heaven and earth are collapsing due to the loss of a loved one, but personally, I hope they consider it fate," and "The entire unit and the entire Republic of Korea Armed Forces, receiving the nation's consolation, will overcome the disappointment for a while and honor the fallen soldier who served the country, standing in the Hall of Military Spirits. The entire nation will pray for this."

Retired Major General Moon also criticized the Korea Military Human Rights Center. He said, "(The Military Human Rights Center) antagonizes the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and intervenes in this case, recklessly releasing expos? press releases ahead of any pseudo-rebel group, damaging the dignity of the company commander who served the country and the dignity of the military officers," and "The Military Human Rights Center is completely unrelated to the development of the Armed Forces and only pours oil on the fire of military incidents and accidents, enjoying it."

Earlier, at around 5:20 p.m. on the 23rd of last month, among six recruits undergoing military discipline training at the 12th Division Recruit Training Center, one recruit named Park collapsed. Park was urgently transported to a civilian hospital for treatment, but his condition worsened, and he died on the afternoon of the 25th.

Military discipline training refers to physical training and mental cultivation instructed by commanders to establish military discipline according to regulations and procedures. The Army identified circumstances violating related regulations that prohibit running (gubo) or push-ups (push-up) while fully equipped with combat gear, and on the 28th of last month, transferred the case to the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency for investigation.