Human Rights Commission Reviews 'Military Abuse' Case of Private Yoon After 11 Years... Resubmitted Due to Differences in Opinion

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) reviewed the petition regarding the death of the late Private Yun Seung-ju, who died due to beating and harsh treatment in a military unit, after 11 years, but the commissioners failed to reach a consensus and decided to resubmit it at the next subcommittee meeting.

The family of the late Private First Class Yoon Seung-joo, who died due to abuse within a military unit, held a press conference condemning the National Human Rights Commission in front of the Commission's office in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Yonhap News

The Military Human Rights Protection Subcommittee of the NHRCK held a review on the morning of the 28th regarding the bereaved family's petition that the cause of Private Yun's death was concealed and fabricated. At the request of the bereaved family, Standing Commissioner Nam Gyu-seon chaired the subcommittee meeting instead of Standing Commissioner Kim Yong-won.

After the meeting, Commissioner Nam said, "The Military Human Rights Protection Subcommittee decided to review and vote again," adding, "There was no agreement on opinions, and further discussion is needed." The schedule for the next meeting has not yet been determined.

On that day, Private Yun's mother, Ahn Mi-ja, said, "The military's wrongdoing, which fabricated and concealed that my son died not from prolonged beating but from choking while eating dumplings, has still not been revealed."

Private Yun died in April 2014 in the Army's 28th Division due to assault and harsh treatment by senior soldiers. When the Military Human Rights Officer of the NHRCK was launched in 2022, the bereaved family filed a petition in April 2023 requesting the truth to be uncovered regarding the concealment and fabrication of the cause of death, but in October 2023, the NHRCK dismissed it. Subsequently, in January of last year, when the bereaved family filed another petition and requested the disqualification of Commissioner Kim, the request was accepted.