`Compensation should be made for hair loss in army`

An appellate court yesterday upheld a district court`s ruling that the state should offer compensation to a man who started losing his hair during mandatory military service.

A 27-year-old man, identified only as "K," filed a complaint against the Suwon branch of the Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs, saying he should be compensated since he started losing hair due during intense 10-day training in July 2004.

He filed the complaint after the ministry rejected his request.

K, who started his military service in December 2002, said he could not receive treatment on time because of the training, and as a result the symptom worsened.

K is currently suffering from rapid hair loss on many parts of his body.

"My hair started falling out from stress during my time of service in the army," he said. "(For instance), I had to wear a bullet-proof helmet even in the most stifling heat."

The court said the conditions of patients in most hair-loss cases do not see improvement for years if the symptom is taking place in multiple locations on their bodies.

"We can`t say there are no connections between the loss of his hair and his military experience only because his condition has not enhanced since being discharged from military service," said court officials.

By Cho Ji-hyun



(sharon@heraldm.com)