By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
The apparent suicides of a pair of South Korean army conscripts have raised further concerns of abuse in the country's military, just one month after police announced bullying as a major factor in a shooting rampage.
The allegations were made in a note left by the younger of the two, according to a military officer Tuesday.
The corporals, aged 21 and 23, were found dead at the elder conscript's home in Seoul on Monday, having been on leave together.
After a series of South Korean military tragedies this year alone, Lee Joon-beom of the country’s army headquarters told reporters that an investigation was underway into whether the pair "had ever been abused."
A note attributed to the younger of the two read, "It is hard to tolerate. I cannot do anything."
The army also confirmed that the conscripts, both surnamed Lee, had been on a watch list of soldiers requiring extra care because of difficulties adapting to military life.
One officer, requesting anonymity, told local news agency Yonhap that the 21-year-old victim had already attempted suicide last year and that they "had tried to let him leave the military early, but his parents had opposed it."
The case has drawn heightened attention since the young men were from the same 28th Infantry Division as a fellow conscript who was allegedly repeatedly beaten by colleagues before his death in April.
Another bullied draftee killed five unit members during a shooting rampage in June.
Army police chief Brigadier Seon Jong-chul told reporters July 15 that the 22-year-old army conscript had planned the assault after being enraged by his fellow soldiers' caricatures depicting him as cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
South Korean government data reveals that 79 conscripts took their own lives last year – Monday's discovery has taken the number for this year up to 46.
www.aa.com.tr/en
