Dozens Of South Korean Soldiers Related To Military Emergency Are Risky Having Mental Health Problems

South Korean troops outside the National Assembly Building (Wikimedia Commons mujjingun)

JAKARTA - Dozens of South Korean soldiers linked to the military emergency announcement earlier this month were at risk of mental health according to the Ministry of Defense's test results.

This is the first time the military has conducted a mental health assessment of troops involved in such operations.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, which conducted psychological evaluations on all personnel deployed after the announcement of a military emergency to the National Assembly on December 3, dozens of them were identified as requiring special treatment due to high risk due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), quoted from The Korea Times December 18.

However, many are reluctant to seek counseling for fear of revealing their identities, labeled as "military emergency forces," or facing possible disciplinary consequences.

A defense ministry official said, "Although surveys found dozens of people who needed attention and management, no one volunteered to seek counseling. They seem to be dealing with stress alone because they are very afraid of being identified as participants in military emergency operations."

In response, the ministry has introduced a civil psychological counseling program to ensure anonymous support for affected forces.

The Employee Assistance Program, launched in 2020, allows soldiers to access personal counseling services without involving military authorities or requiring personal identification.

Earlier, the ministry revealed on Monday that about 1,500 soldiers were deployed during a military emergency operation, most of which did not know their specific mission or location until the last minute.

Some soldiers are known to have received orders to forcibly get rid of lawmakers, which cause significant confusion and psychological pressure.

The situation is very severe for special forces units, whose self-esteem and morale have been greatly affected.

During a session of the parliamentary defense committee on December 10, Brigadier General Lee Sang-hyun, commander of the 1st Cross-Air Brigade, was seen shedding tears.

Meanwhile, the commander of the 707th Special Mission Group special forces Colonel Kim Hyun-tae cried during a press conference, describing the emotional burden on his troops.

An official at the defense ministry stressed the need for caution, saying, "PTSD and trauma often appear over time, so we handle this very carefully. Soldiers in groups are at risk of looking reluctant to seek help for fear of being recognized or punished."

"Steps to convince and support these soldiers are urgently needed," he concluded.