The Dark Cloud of Military Service Hanging Over Campus

“Born as a proud son of our nation, on the worthwhile path of defending our country...” It is the first verse of the Korean military song “Comrades,” written by poet Park Mok-Wol. The military serves as both the front line and the last defense of national security. For this mission, young men in their twenties cross the guardhouse and dedicate 18 months of their lives to the nation, training by day and standing guard by night. However, the military is overlooking their sacrifices and loyalty.

Less than a year after the marine from the 1st Marine Division tragically died last July while searching for missing persons during localized heavy rain, another incident occurred in May when a military recruit named Park died just 13 days after entering basic training due to unauthorized disciplinary actions. Each year, around 90 people lose their lives in the military. The victims of these hidden incidents are often young men in their 20s, who could be anyone from our everyday lives.

According to the Pusan National University (PNU)’s statistical yearbook, 2,594 male students enrolled at PNU last year. Based on Military Manpower Administration statistics, which indicate that 83% of males enlist as active-duty soldiers, it is estimated that about 2,100 of them take a leave of absence from school to enlist each year. While most young men complete their military service and safely return to their loved ones, for some, the military becomes a place that irreparably alters their lives without taking any responsibility.

■Enter as Our Sons, Leave as Strangers

Song (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 22) who is still suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) that developed during his military service in July last year, was only be properly investigated and discharged five months after the incident. CRPS is a rare neurological disorder where the autonomic nervous system overreacts to external stimuli, causing swelling and severe pain in the affected area without any apparent reason.

Song injured his ankle while rushing to attend a morning roll call, falling and twisting his ankle. With the help of his comrades, he waited to be taken to the medical center. He said, “The unit considered that I didn’t meet the criteria for a medical evacuation vehicle, so I was taken to the medical center in a regular vehicle, which took about an hour. At the medical center, the military doctor told me they couldn't perform X-rays at the time and directed me to go to Chuncheon Army Hospital.” The military unit where he served was still a 40 to 50 minutes drive away from the Chuncheon Army Hospital, and the wait for vehicle dispatch further delayed his medical treatment. 

Even after arriving at the National Army Hospital, he did not receive proper treatment. “By the time I got there, it had been six hours since the accident. The X-rays showed fractures in my ankle and foot, and I was sent back to the unit with crutches, a cast, and painkillers,” he said.

For a month, his swelling and pain did not subside, so he visited the Armed Forces Capital Hospital, which was a six-hour round trip from his unit. There, he says, “The military surgeon told me to stop pretending to be in pain and didn’t even check the condition of my cast. The entire consultation lasted less than a minute.”

The military’s delayed treatment is reflected in the National Human Rights Commission of Korea’s investigation. According to a 2020 survey commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on the state of military healthcare, 24.8% of soldiers reported that they had not received timely medical treatment. The mistrust in the military healthcare system is also evident in the use of private hospitals by active-duty soldiers. In 2022, 41,155  active-duty soldiers were admitted to private hospitals, the highest number in the past decade. The total number of private hospital visits by active-duty soldiers increased by 300,000 over the year, a sharp rise after a brief decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Song wondered, “Is this the proper treatment?” He finally received a diagnosis of CRPS after visiting Kangwon National University Hospital, a private hospital, and was advised to seek treatment at a larger hospital in Seoul. Using his leave and his own money, he received several months of medication treatment at a hospital in Seoul, but did not improve, eventually being discharged with a fifth-grade injury for CRPS. Song said, “Even now, when I try to sleep, I feel a tingling sensation in my foot like I’ve eaten something spicy.”

■A Changed Future After the Injury

Heo Jeong-Min (Dept. of History Education), who gave up seeking compensation due to the complex procedures and inter-organization offloading, arrived for the interview with a limp. He had to stop his military service after just seven days at a military training center last April due to a broken herniated cervical disc. On the first Friday of enlistment, during emergency first aid training, a fellow military recruit made a mistake while practicing carrying an injured person. The weight of the military recruit acting as a casualty strained Heo’s back. 

He hoped to recover over the weekend, but his leg gradually went numb and eventually became paralyzed. On Monday, he was taken to a private hospital with his platoon leader. He stated “I headed to a private hospital, which is a military affiliated institution, with my platoon leader. (At the hospital) I was diagnosed with a herniated disc rupture and advised to undergo surgery.” He accepted his company commander’s suggestion to leave the training center and returned to civilian life just a week after enlisting.

After his discharge, Heo had to navigate through various offices to seek compensation for his medical expenses, but was told that no agency would take responsibility. “The Army Headquarters, Military Manpower Administration, and Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs all said it wasn’t their jurisdiction, and it seemed like they didn’t know whose it was either,” Heo added. “They just kept passing the responsibility to each other, so I eventually gave up on seeking compensation.”

Heo said, “I underwent a herniated disc surgery in early May and was given a Grade 5 rating in the physical examination.” Initially, even walking for 20 minutes was difficult, but with consistent physical therapy, he can now walk for up to an hour. More than anything, he expressed regret over the lost time, saying, “I am returning to school, but I am uncertain if I will be able to attend properly. Even now, I limp and find it difficult to walk properly, so I may need to take a leave of absence again.”

Securing compensation for military injuries is fraught with challenges. Strict criteria based on the severity and location of the injury often exclude many from receiving benefits. Even losing a pinky or the inability to move a toe is not enough to qualify as a veteran. In the first half of this year alone, 2,057 people applied for registration as national merit recipients or compensatory beneficiaries, but 1,039 (50.5%) were rejected for failing to meet the criteria. Since Heo had already been discharged from the training center, he could not receive compensation for his medical expenses.

Heo shared, “My younger brother also has to enlist soon. My parents, who used to say, ‘It’s better to go and get it over with,’ now tell him, ‘If possible, I hope you don’t have to go to the military.’ They try not to show it, but I can tell they are deeply hurt and saddened.” He added, “It’s heartbreaking to feel guilty towards my parents for something I didn’t cause but happened during military service.”

Reported You Seung-Hyun, Hwang Ju-Won

Translated by Seo Yoo-Jung