They belonged to the Army鈥檚 28th Division, which has been under intense public scrutiny since a private first class from the unit died earlier this year due to appalling abuse in his barracks in听Yeoncheon,听Gyeonggi听Province.
Later in the day, another suicide occurred at a unit of the Army鈥檚 Third Corps in听Gwangju,听Gyeonggi听Province, adding to public concerns about the military鈥檚 handling of vulnerable soldiers. A private first class apparently shot himself during a live-fire exercise.
The two in听Yeoncheon听apparently hanged themselves on the apartment鈥檚 balcony in听Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul, according to military officials and police. One of the corporals shared the apartment with his sister.
The corporals whose names were withheld from the media left notes that indicated they had suffered abuse at their barracks. One said in his note that he wanted to kill one of his seniors, while the other said his military life was 鈥渢ough鈥� and he could not endure it anymore.
The two went on leave on August 3 and August 6, respectively. One, who is originally from Seoul, was to return to his base on Monday 鈥� the reason why military police began a search for him Monday night. The other from听Gwangju听was to return on Thursday.
Both were classified as 鈥渟oldiers requiring extra supervision鈥� after they exhibited suicidal tendencies during past personality tests, the Army said. They both have received psychiatric treatment because of difficulties adapting to military life, one on eight occasions and the other on seven.
The soldier from听Gwangju, in particular, attempted suicide on his base last October. He also ran away from his unit the next month, but was captured eight hours later. Military officials said his unit sought to classify him as unfit for active duty, but failed to do so after his parents opposed the decision.
This soldier was also found to have told his juniors in June that he and his fellow corporal would commit suicide. Although his colleagues had learned about his suicide plan, it was not reported to higher authorities, Army officials said.
The bodies of the soldiers are at a military hospital in听Seongnam,听Gyeonggi听Province. The authorities initially sought to conduct autopsies to verify the cause of death, but decided not to as the bereaved families opposed it.
The double suicide came as the military struggles to stamp out mental and physical abuse in the barracks following a recent spate of violence cases including a shooting spree in June that killed five soldiers.
To curb suicide and violence, the military has launched a campaign to improve what critics call 鈥渙utmoded, closed鈥� military culture. It is also seeking to strengthen counseling programs and human rights education at all military units.
In addition, the military is considering quickening the process of letting these soldiers leave service. The process usually takes about two to three months.
During an inauguration ceremony, new Army chief Gen. Kim听Yo-hwan听vowed to wipe out violence in the military.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 achieve any unity among ourselves in the military should there continue to be beatings, abuse and verbal violence. Then we can鈥檛 win in a war either,鈥� Kim said during the ceremony.
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