Deaths in military decrease, while suicides climb

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Deaths at South Korean military barracks hit record low
last year, decreasing by some 16 percent from 2008, while the number of suicides
increased during the same period, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday.
Up to 113 soldiers and military personnel died while on duty last year, dropping
from 134 deaths in 2008, 158 in 2002 and 182 in 2000, according to the ministry's
report.
But the number of suicides in military climbed by six people in 2009 compared to
a year earlier, with suicide accounting for more than two-thirds of the total
number of deaths. A total of 81 servicemen took their own lives last year,
followed by 13 who died in car accidents, eight who fell to death and seven who
drowned.
South Korea runs compulsory conscription system to maintain its 655,000-strong
force.
"We believe overall deaths (in the military) decreased last year largely due to
newly-launched programs centering on preventing accidents," the defense ministry
said in a press release. "This year, we plan to set up special counseling
programs and conduct regular psychological examinations to prevent suicides."
Up to 77 servicemen killed themselves while on duty in 2006, followed by 80 in
2007 and 75 in 2008.
The suicide rate, the number of suicides per 100,000 people, in the military was
11.4 in 2009, remaining low compared to that among civilians aged 20-29 in South
Korea, which is 22.6 per 100,000 people.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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