Recognition as a Fallen Hero Even if Death Occurs Due to Injury Sustained During Military Service

Even if a soldier is injured or falls ill while performing duties during military service and dies after discharge due to those reasons, they can now be recognized as a war casualty or a line-of-duty death.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the amendment to the Military Personnel Act containing this provision was promulgated on the 31st of last month.

The amendment added a clause stating that if a soldier is injured or contracts a disease during military service and dies after discharge due to the injury or illness that caused the discharge, they can be recognized as a war casualty or a line-of-duty death after review by the Ordinary Military Service Casualty Review Committee. Previously, only those with military status could be recognized as war casualties or line-of-duty deaths according to the criteria, and deaths occurring after discharge as civilians were not recognized.

If it is determined that active duty is unsuitable due to physical or mental disability, discharge may be enforced regardless of the individual's wishes. There had been criticism that even if a soldier was injured or fell ill while performing duties, if they died after discharge, they could not be recognized as a war casualty or line-of-duty death. Currently, the military recognizes soldiers who die during combat or anti-espionage operations as war casualties, and those who die during missions such as deep-sea rescue or mine clearance as line-of-duty deaths. They have prepared and announced for legislative notice an amendment to the enforcement decree to include deaths occurring after discharge.

The Ministry of National Defense explained, "Even if death was caused by injuries sustained in the military, there were differences in treatment and compensation depending on the status at the time of death," and added, "This problem will be resolved through the amendment of the law and enforcement decree."

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