Physical Abuse at Army Barracks Tripled in 5 Years

There has been a massive increase in reported physical abuse of conscripts in army barracks as hazing and bullying go from bad to worse amid declining discipline.

Back in June, a 23-year-old sergeant serving at a border post killed five of his comrades in a shooting rampage. In October, a 22-year-old private first class serving with a medics squad died following physical abuse and fatal hazing from his senior comrades.

Public distrust of the military has reached a peak as violence and suicides proliferate.

The number of violent cases that endanger conscripts' lives has tripled over the past five years, according to data released by Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Jae-won.

As many as 821 conscripts had killed themselves from 2004 until August this year. And the numbers are rising, from 72.6 on annual average during 2004-2008 to 82.2 during the 2009-2013period.

The number of conscripts needing psychiatric treatment in military hospitals reached 38,281 last year. It first exceeded the 30,000 mark in 2009.

Experts are calling for proper care for young men who are forced by law to serve in the military and an overhaul of the stone-age culture of hazing that still persists in barracks.

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