[Exclusive] Even Counselors Can't Speak Up to Superiors... Harsh Treatment Still Prevails in the Military [MZ Mindfulness]

③Soldiers Committing Suicide Themselves
Increase in Harsh Treatment but Lenient Punishments
Prevention Measures Fail, System Improvement Needed

The number of suicides within the military has been recorded in double digits every year. The main causes are identified as harsh treatment, assault, and verbal abuse, but most perpetrators have only received light punishments. There are calls for urgent improvements in military barracks culture and practical suicide prevention measures.

◆Persistent Harsh Treatment, Assault, and Verbal Abuse

According to the "Military Suicide Statistics" obtained by Asia Economy through an information disclosure request on the 24th, the number of suicides in the military was 62 in 2019, 42 in 2020, 83 in 2021, 70 in 2022, and 68 in 2023. Based on last year’s data, 44 were officers and 24 were enlisted soldiers. By branch, the Army had the highest number with 42, followed by the Air Force with 13, the National Direct Command units with 7, the Navy with 5, and the Marine Corps with 1. By rank, there were 27 officers, 12 non-commissioned officers, 24 enlisted soldiers, and 5 civilian employees.

The military is a unique organization where hierarchical ranks and subordinate relationships exist. This can cause maladjustment and stress during military service, and harsh treatment, violence, and verbal abuse by superiors have a close correlation with suicide. It is now necessary to recognize military suicides not simply as individual problems but as a responsibility of the state.

Harsh treatment incidents in the military have actually increased, but no cases have resulted in imprisonment. According to last year’s "Military Harsh Treatment Status," the Army’s cases rose from 20 in 2019 to 41 last year, the Navy’s from 14 to 68, and the Air Force’s from 9 to 13. Regarding last year’s punishments, out of a total of 122 cases, there were 0 imprisonments, 2 suspended sentences, 0 deferred sentences, 12 fines, and 42 non-prosecutions.

The situation is similar for violence and verbal abuse within the military. According to the "Military Violence Crimes and Insult Crimes Status," last year there were 567 violence cases in the Army, 298 in the Navy, and 101 in the Air Force, totaling 966 cases. Punishments included 2 imprisonments, 17 suspended sentences, 5 deferred sentences, 151 fines, and 497 non-prosecutions. Last year, verbal abuse and insult cases were 323 in the Army, 56 in the Navy, and 59 in the Air Force, totaling 438 cases, but only 3 resulted in imprisonment. Meanwhile, there were 10 suspended sentences, 5 deferred sentences, 9 fines, and 225 non-prosecutions.

◆Linking with Civilian Counselors, Strict Confidentiality

Army soldiers are attending a mental strength lecture. [Photo by Ministry of National Defense]

The Ministry of National Defense stated that as a suicide prevention measure, counseling is conducted through military life professional counselors to help soldiers adapt to military life, and military instructors are appointed as suicide prevention instructors to provide suicide prevention education within units. They also said that periodic psychological tests are conducted starting from the Military Manpower Administration’s military service examination to identify soldiers at psychological risk early. Additionally, they operate a psychological healing program called the Green Camp for soldiers experiencing difficulties in military life to manage rapid separation and psychological stabilization of high-risk groups, showing continuous efforts.

However, considering the current situation where the number of suicides is not decreasing, the military’s suicide prevention measures are evaluated as failures. Typically, counseling within the military is perceived as a process where superiors solve and assist subordinates’ difficulties. Since the counselor and the counselee do not have an equal relationship, effective counseling cannot be achieved.

Therefore, soldiers feel high pressure and tension during counseling and are likely to adopt defensive attitudes due to fear of stigma. Counseling is rarely voluntarily requested by soldiers, and most tend to just endure their problems. Especially in cases related to harsh treatment or injustice, soldiers often cannot disclose the situation themselves. It is difficult to expect professional responses to suicide and depression with the existing system. Ultimately, there are calls for institutional improvements such as linking with civilian counselors and ensuring strict confidentiality.

Professor Im Myungho of Dankook University’s Department of Psychology advised, “The military is an isolated, independent group cut off from the outside, and if education and counseling within were strengthened, results should be visible. In fact, there has been no effect. Counseling within the military is not open, and civilian counseling is also limited. Various measures should be prepared to allow private help without public exposure.”

※If you have difficult concerns such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive expert counseling 24 hours a day by calling the suicide prevention hotline ☎109.