State to Pay $14,500 to Parents of Soldier Who Died by Suicide After Mental Health 'Risk' Flag

A South Korean court has ordered the state to pay 20 million won (approximately $14,500) in compensation to the parents of a young soldier who died by suicide just four months after enlisting. The soldier, identified only as 'A', had been flagged with a "risk" of suicide during a mental health evaluation but continued to face disciplinary actions and inadequate support.

'A' enlisted in the army in June 2021 and struggled with military life, being designated a "considerate soldier." Despite a change in his duties, he continued to make mistakes and faced persistent reprimands from his superiors. A psychological assessment revealed he was at "risk" of suicide, yet no adjustments were made to his work schedule or duties. His request to contact his parents was also not relayed to them.

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The plaintiffs sent their son, 'A', to enlist for national defense with the expectation that he would return healthy after faithfully fulfilling his duty, but they lost their grown son in an instant.

Ultimately, 'A' was designated a "soldier needing assistance" by the battalion commander, who was supposed to directly oversee his well-being. However, the commander reportedly reprimanded 'A' severely without being fully aware of his condition. Tragically, 'A' took his own life a few days later at the age of 21. The court ruled that the military's failure to properly manage the soldier's mental health and well-being was a direct cause of his death, awarding the substantial damages to his grieving parents.

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The compensation of 5 million won per person has remained the same since its revision in 2000 and does not seem to align with the intent of the provision's establishment.