Wearing Military Uniform and Live Streaming from the Barracks... Is This the Reality of the Military These Days?

Soldier Conducts 'TikTok' Live Broadcast from Barracks
Military Equipment Spotted in Broadcast... Presumed Actual Military Interior
Repeated Criticism of 'Military Discipline Laxity'

A man dressed in military uniform is seen doing a TikTok live broadcast in what appears to be a barracks, and the footage has spread on online communities, causing controversy.
[Photo source='FM Korea' capture]

A video of a young man in military uniform conducting a live broadcast on social media (SNS) from what is presumed to be a barracks (formerly known as a dormitory) has spread, sparking controversy.

On the 23rd, screenshots of the live broadcast in question have been circulating mainly on various online communities. The screen shows a man wearing a military green T-shirt and a military cap, posing with a salute to viewers against the backdrop of the barracks. A chat message from a viewer watching the live broadcast saying, "Please do a room tour," also stands out.

Some netizens claimed that the barracks shown in the broadcast appeared to be a set rather than an actual barracks, but the majority argued, "It looks exactly like the current barracks," insisting that "the broadcast was indeed conducted inside an actual military facility."

In fact, various military gear such as ballistic helmets and double bags currently used by the military are placed on the lockers visible behind the man on the screen. The light purple blanket on the bed is also presumed to be a commercial blanket that the Ministry of National Defense ordered to replace in the Army and Marine Corps last December. Since then, the green-colored blankets and bedding familiar to service members have been used only for training and ceremonial purposes.

Within military units, the use of mobile phones is permitted outside of working hours. This policy was first allowed in April 2018 under the Moon Jae-in administration, when the Ministry of National Defense permitted mobile phone use after work in four Army units, and it was fully implemented in July 2020.

Repeated Criticism of 'Military Discipline Laxity'

Nevertheless, netizens have poured out criticism, saying that "revealing the inside of the military to the outside violates security regulations." One netizen sharply criticized, "The entire interior of the military, including the location of the lockers, is classified information. How can they broadcast that live to the whole world?" Another expressed regret, saying, "Is this really a country at armistice? Has it become this lax?"

Meanwhile, last month, criticism of 'military discipline laxity' was raised after it was revealed that military officers borrowed emergency funds from loan sharks using a level 3 secret code phrase as collateral. Following the disclosure, netizens responded with comments such as "Soldiers are now selling out the country," "How did the Republic of Korea military come to this?" and "Is this real?" They unanimously called for a crackdown on military discipline.