"Struggling with Asthma, Isolated in a Dusty Room... Another Military Human Rights Violation Controversy"

On the 1st, a post was uploaded on the Facebook page 'Delivered on Behalf of the Army Training Center' exposing that a recruit showing asthma symptoms at the Army Training Center was prescribed common cold medicine.
[Photo by Facebook]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Starting with the exposure of 'poor-quality meals,' there have been ongoing revelations that basic rights of recruits in military training centers are being restricted, such as limiting soldiers' shower and restroom use under the pretext of COVID-19 prevention. This time, a report has emerged from an Army training center claiming that a recruit suffering from asthma was prescribed cold medicine and isolated in a dust-covered room, sparking controversy.

On the 1st, a post was uploaded on the Facebook page 'Delivering Messages on Behalf of the Army Training Center' by a whistleblower identified as Mr. A, who stated he enlisted in the 30th Regiment of the Army Training Center.

Mr. A, who had experienced asthma symptoms since childhood, entered the Nonsan training center last March.

According to Mr. A, from the second day of enlistment, he began to show symptoms of rhinitis and allergies and reported this to his platoon leader. He then received a prescription through a phone consultation, which was a general cold medicine.

Even after receiving the medication, Mr. A's asthma symptoms worsened, and he requested to be sent home but was told by the unit, "You cannot be sent home for asthma," and he continued daily phone consultations.

Subsequently, Mr. A was isolated in an unsanitary room due to respiratory illness. He said, "The bed in the isolated room was covered with white dust," and "There were even bugs like spiders, silverfish, and ants."

This worsened Mr. A's asthma symptoms, and he lamented, "I applied to go home on the day I was isolated (Friday) and was told I could leave on Monday, so I gritted my teeth and endured it." He also added, "My asthma got worse, and I stayed awake for three nights," and "I used wet wipes and ventilated the room while cleaning."

When the situation deteriorated beyond endurance, Mr. A requested a meeting with the platoon leader and squad leader but was told, "I've never seen anyone sent home for asthma," and "Change your mindset." They also said, "Haven't we worked for decades without getting sick?" and "Let's think positively."

Mr. A expressed his suffering, saying, "I now understand what it means that illnesses develop in the military that didn't exist before," and "While isolated alone in the military, unable to breathe and enduring the stress, I still feel anxious and have trouble sleeping alone in my room." He added, "I hope those suffering from isolation do not end up like me."

Netizens criticized the situation, commenting, "Even after multiple exposures, it seems there is no intention to improve," "I also complained about asthma pain but was prescribed medication for acid reflux," and "Where are the human rights of recruits?"

Meanwhile, on the 28th, Army Chief of Staff Nam Young-shin held an emergency meeting with key commanders and apologized regarding the controversy over human rights violations of recruits due to excessive COVID-19 prevention measures within the military, announcing plans to review the quarantine management system.

The National Human Rights Commission also announced on the 29th that it will conduct the '2021 Military Human Rights Situation Survey' targeting military training centers, and plans to analyze precedents of human rights violations that occurred in military training centers such as the Army Training Center to prepare policy alternatives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.