Questions arise over conscript found dead in isolation last year

A sergeant who had just a month remaining until the end of his mandatory military service was found dead in isolation over punitive measures last year, military authorities said Sunday, raising questions over possible negligence. The 21-year-old who was serving at a unit of the Defense Intelligence Agency was found dead at around 1:50 p.m. on Nov. 11 last year, according to the defense ministry. The soldier, whose identity was withheld, was covered with a blanket at the time of his death. He had been living by himself in separate quarters located around 100 meters away from the barracks for 17 days when he died, as part of punitive measures taken in a separate incident that occurred within the military. The sergeant reportedly confided to a fellow soldier on the difficulties of living alone and suggested that improvements should be made to the temporary shelter that he found too cold. Following an autopsy that failed to identify the cause of the death, the military police concluded that the case did not involve foul play and did not transfer the case to the civilian police. The military police requested disciplinary action against relevant officials, but no such action has taken place nearly 10 months after the soldier's death. The relevant unit said the process is under way. Critics say the soldier may have survived if a regular roll call had taken place on the day of his death. Some point out that the maximum number of days of probation allowed under military personnel policy is 15 days. Rep. Huh Young of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) called for an overall review of the case. "It is hard to understand that the case remains unaccounted for, nearly 300 days after a conscript who had just a month left until being discharged died in negligence in an environment where his rights were not ensured," Huh said. Source: Yonhap News Agency