"Drill Instructor Laughed While Joking After Trainee Died During Punishment Training"…Sighs Over Instructor's Testimony

"Test Recruit Park Called 'Mom' Before Collapsing," Testimony Also Revealed

Testimony has emerged that officers who ordered harsh punishments, including unauthorized 'eolcharyeo' drills, at the Army's 12th Division Recruit Training Battalion laughed and joked even after trainee Park Mo died.

Army 12th Division Recruit Training Battalion Company Commander Kang (left) and Deputy Company Commander Nam, who caused the death of a recruit during military discipline training.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2 (Chief Judge Kim Seong-rae) held the third trial for company commander Kang Mo (27, Captain) and deputy company commander Nam Mo (25, Lieutenant), who were charged with abuse resulting in death and abuse of authority. When asked by the prosecution about their attitude after the incident, training instructor A, who testified in court, said, "I met the company commander and deputy company commander in the battalion commander's office, and they were joking and laughing, having casual conversations like 'I made something to eat yesterday, and it was delicious.'" He added, "When the platoon leader brought the PTSD checklist to the company commander and told him to check it, the company commander laughed and said, 'Shouldn't we just mark everything as high risk?'" Following A's testimony, sighs were reportedly heard in the courtroom.

On the same day, fellow trainee B also testified about the situation just before trainee Park collapsed. B stated, "I heard from a fellow trainee who helped carry the military gear that Park's lips were bluish, and before collapsing, he called out 'Mom' three times." He added, "The company commander told Park to get up, and Park only kept repeating 'I'm sorry.'"

They are accused of abusing their authority by ordering and enforcing military discipline training in violation of related laws on May 23 around 4:30 p.m. at the training ground of the Army's 12th Infantry Division Recruit Training Battalion. The training included marching with full gear, running, a race to finish one lap, and push-ups for six trainees including the late trainee Park. Notably, trainee Park, who collapsed during the training, died two days after being transferred from the medical unit to a civilian hospital due to the company commander and deputy company commander's negligence in failing to promptly recognize the emergency and provide timely first aid.

Previously, the prosecution focused on investigating the circumstances and process leading to trainee Park's death in connection with this case. Based on weather conditions, training methods, progress, and the victim's physical condition, they concluded that the victim died due to unlawful military discipline training that constituted abuse. Therefore, the prosecution charged the company commander and deputy company commander with abuse resulting in death (punishable by imprisonment from 3 to 30 years), rather than the previously applied charge of professional negligence causing death (imprisonment up to 5 years) when the police transferred them.