The company commander and deputy company commander of the Army's recruit training center were sentenced to five and three years in prison, respectively, for ordering unauthorized disciplinary drills that led to the death of a trainee.
In its first-trial verdict on Tuesday, the Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon Province found the defendants guilty, acknowledging a direct link between their actions and the death of the trainee, surnamed Park.
The court added that the abnormal military training dropped public trust in the military.
Six trainees underwent the disciplinary session on May 23, 2024, at the 12th division recruit training center in Inje, Gangwon Province. Prosecutors said that the commanders failed to take appropriate safety measures for Park, who had fainted during the training session.
Park was taken to a civilian hospital, but died two days later.
The prosecution judged that the trainee was the victim of physical abuse while being disciplined at the boot camp after investigating the case. The commanders were indicted for abuse of power and death from abuse.
The prosecutors said the fatal outcome could have been prevented if the commanders had made a proper judgment.
Prosecutors requested 10 and seven-year prison terms for Kang and Nam, respectively, in a final hearing in November 2024.
