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Mar. 29  2024
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[The Konkuk Bulletin] Revive, Revive, Revive Jae-sub!!

Is the army a place of death?

Source  :  The Konkuk Bulletin, Konkuk University Campus English Press


By Lee Wang-jae, Editor in chief
wangjae2@hanmail.net

On September 25th, many students about twenty, gathered at the Student Annex Hall for going to the Ministry of National Defence because they want to find out the real truth concerning a mysterious death, the late Lee Jae-sub( a School of Economic Commerce freshmen) with a bereaved family and many school mates. Arriving there around 3 o'clock, a quarrel occurred between combat policemen and bereaved families in front of the Ministry of National Defense. During the quarrel, an older brother of Lee Jae-sub had a front tooth broken and was wounded in the forehead. The bereaved family who watched that spectate gave vent to their pent-up anger but the effect of the combat policemen and people of the Ministry of National Defence were chilling.

¢ÂJoining the army and an outline of the accident
1. Joining the army
The late Lee Jae-sub entered in the army on April 9th in 2001 and got training for six weeks in a recruit training center. On May 24th, he was a private and after 2 weeks, his position was turned to a soldier on cook's duty so he served about 40 days. On July 14th, his position was changed to that of an artilleryman and he served until the accident occurred.

2. An outline of the accident
After joining the army and spending about 100 days in that capacity, all soldiers took a vacation, four days and five nights. Lee Jae-sub also took a vacation and came to his hometown, Pohang, and spent time with his family and friends from July 18th to July 22nd. While having dinner with his family on 21st, he said that "Mother and Father , don't worry about me, don't overwork and stay in good health. I will work hard so be a diplomat after being discharged from military service and help my parents lead a comfortable life. On July 22nd, his mother asked, " Aren't you worried?" before entering the army. He left for home smiling and saying, "When it was winter vacation, I worked hard keeping watch on a Pupyoung factory so don't worry. I'll see you in October." On that day at 8:30 p.m., his mother received a call that he had arrived safetly from him and his grandmother also got a call.
The next day, on July 23rd at 5:30 p.m, after he had returned to the army his mother received a call that Lee Jae-sub had committed suicide from an artillery commender. " How he did he committed a suicide?" his mother asked. " He hang himself." the commender answered, so they asked what time he committed suicide and he replied that "Jae-sub and another soldier performed sentry duty, but they didn't come to their military unit, so soldiers went looking for them, but Jae-sub had hanged himself. That was about 3 o'clock." So his mother asked the an commander to preserve the spot and all articles left by him and called her husband who was working in a firm and left Pohang in a hurry to go to a Jae-sub's army base was about 7:00 p.m.
The next day, on July 24th at 3:00 a.m. they had no sooner arrived than they went to the spot with participants of the army. That spot was a miserable sight they couldn't look at with two eyes open. The parents saw the spot where of the accident had occurred and the dead body was moved to a mortuary of a hospital

¢Â Interview with Jae-sub's father
Q) How is the situation so far?
Father) Above all, thank you for coming. I think that a man should go to the army if you can manage to, but it's very important to manage soldiers well to avoid disgraceful affairs. The present situation is that the Chief of the General Staff of the Army gave notice that suicide is the official cause of death. That means it's the end of the investigation, but my family will make a request for a criminal investigation again.

Q) What do you wish for?
Father) I just want to know how you did. If my son committed suicide or was murdered by some, please provide reasonable evidence about that accident to my family. Now, when participants of an army inquire into the truth of the matter, the method of criminal investigation is very irrational and one-sided. Most people are concerned about their self-esteem and don't like to have their self-esteem trampled on. I am mortified at being mistreated, but trampling on the honor of my son can't be endured. I know that it's very difficult to determine the cause of an accident, but I will determine the cause of the accident before I die

Q) Is there are something that you want to say to Jae-sub
Father) I'm so sorry to my son. I knew that he suffered anguish trying to earn registration fees and living expenses for a part-time job, but I didn't say a word about him looking tired because I think a man should be raised to be strong enough to solve any problem for himself. But........

¢Â Contrary position during the process of a criminal investigation
Position of the victim and Position of the Army
1. The victim: When parents received a call about the mishap, the first call came is about 3 p.m
The army: We didn't say that. The first call came at 4:55 p.m
2. The victim: A muddied fingerprint on a wall is a mark that wasn't dragged.
The army: No one has a trace among the soldiers, but it's a trace that a bereaved family left behind. ( They didn't show certain evidence.)
3. The victim: A pocketbook not found the day of the accident was found after five days. It's a fabrication.
The army: A soldier who was on sentry duty found what wasn't found on that day. It's not a fabrication.
4. The victim: The belongings from the dead body consist of a pair of gloves, a pack of cigarettes, a lighter and a simple ashtray.
The army: A note was found in addition to these.
5. The victim: Don't preserve the first spot.
The army: Go down artillery to see if he is alive or not.
6. The victim: When a prop of artillery which was exposed to rain was slippery and the bereaved family see a direction in which it is, it would be difficult at that angle for him to hang himself.
The army: If he is firmly determined to die, he would hang himself anyhow.
7. The victim: A private can't learn how to use of artillery and never touches it, but learning to do so himself is unreasonable
The army: Teach it theoretically.
8. The victim: Two veteran soldiers beat and abused him, so they were thrown in a house of detention but the military police didn't investigate the whole story of the affair and how violent it was.
The army: No response
9. The victim: They said that "If you have any doubts, please inquire."
The army: But when we questioned, their responses did not agree with the evidence.

Besides the above-mentioned, after doubtful points remain. This reporter wants to determine the cause of the accident as soon as possible.


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