Though more than 100 soldiers die while on active duty each year, the majority of their bereaved families receive state compensation through civil lawsuits, a report showed Monday, underscoring their years-long struggle that adds to the already tragic losses.
According to Rep. Lim Nae-hyun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, the government has provided compensation for their deaths as a result of litigation in all cases but one since 2012.
Of the 26 suits raised, six groups of plaintiffs had to undergo a series of probes and reviews over their children’s deaths that could take several years before bringing a civil action. One case closed in 2012 was initiated from a 1982 death.
The families of the deceased troops can file for compensation either by making a request to each military branch or taking it to the court. But many of them opt to file a suit because they concluded that the suggested reparations were insufficient or the government did not accept responsibility, Lim said.
The Defense Ministry said it is actively supporting investigations such as into the causes and motives of death and providing necessary briefings to the soldiers’ families.
The total annual fatalities throughout the Army, Navy and Air Force have been hovering above 100 over the past three years, with suicide being the chief cause of death with an average of 66.2. The yearly tally was 101 in 2014, 117 in 2013 and 111 in 2012. While 54 servicemen died, 28 of them killed themselves, between January and Aug. 11 this year.
“Despite more than 100 lives lost each year, many of their parents were forced to go through hardship for seven years on average trying to reveal the truth of their deaths and receive compensation,” the lawmaker said in a statement.
“The military should come up with steps to secure fairness in the investigation of the cases including hiring legal experts from outside.”
By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
