Sharp Rise in Chickenpox and Malaria Cases in Military... Ongoing Occurrence of STDs Such as Syphilis

Assemblyman Hwang Hee of the Democratic Party of Korea

It has been revealed that the number of patients with legally designated infectious diseases, such as chickenpox and malaria, is rapidly increasing within the South Korean military. In particular, the continued occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, has prompted calls for urgent countermeasures.

According to an analysis of data submitted by the Armed Forces Medical Command to Assemblyman Hwang Hee of the National Assembly Defense Committee on October 17, the total number of cases of legally designated infectious diseases in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and units directly under the Ministry of National Defense over the past five years reached 436,451.

Excluding COVID-19 (435,363 cases), there were 1,088 cases of other legally designated infectious diseases. Among these, 604 were classified as second-class legally designated infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, tuberculosis, and pertussis, while 484 were third-class legally designated infectious diseases, including malaria, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and scrub typhus. By military branch, the Army had the highest number with 908 cases, followed by the Navy and Marine Corps with 103, units directly under the Ministry with 39, and the Air Force with 38.

Looking at the types of infections excluding COVID-19, chickenpox accounted for 496 cases (45.6%), followed by malaria with 325 cases (29.9%), tuberculosis with 59 cases (5.4%), syphilis with 47 cases (4.3%), and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with 46 cases (4.2%). In addition, there were 21 cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, 15 cases of hepatitis C, 14 cases of scrub typhus, 9 cases of hepatitis B, and 8 cases of hepatitis A.

For chickenpox, a second-class legally designated infectious disease, the number of cases surged from 60 in 2021 and 63 in 2022 to 158 in 2023, with 141 cases reported last year. This year, 74 cases were reported as of August. For pertussis, there were no cases between 2021 and 2023, but 26 new cases were diagnosed last year, and 9 cases have been reported as of August this year.

Malaria, a third-class legally designated infectious disease, has been increasing annually, with 40 cases in 2021, 54 in 2022, 87 in 2023, and 88 in 2024. As of August this year, 56 cases have been diagnosed.

For acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, there were 15 cases in 2021, 13 in 2022, 5 in 2023, 8 in 2024, and 5 cases as of August 2025, totaling 46 cases. For syphilis, there were 20 cases in 2021, 9 in 2022, and 10 in 2023; however, the number increased again to 25 in 2024, with 2 cases reported as of August this year.

Assemblyman Hwang Hee stated, "Due to the unique environment of collective living in the military, there is a heightened risk of group infections and the spread of infectious diseases. Since infections among military personnel are directly linked to national security, it is essential to establish proactive preventive measures to avoid non-combat losses."