Why wounded soldiers say Korea has failed them – Korea JoongAng Daily

Why wounded soldiers say Korea has failed them  Korea JoongAng Daily

South Korean soldiers injured by North Korean mines and in naval battles face gaps in PTSD treatment, disability pensions and veterans benefits, raising questions over support for service members. A new land mine incident highlights gaps in Korea’s compensation, PTSD care and support for service members injured on duty. The author is a welfare specialist reporter at the JoongAng Ilbo. Retired Staff Sgt. Ha Jae-heon, who lost both legs in a North Korean wooden-box land mine attack in 2015, participated as a citizen representative in Seoul’s New Year bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak in January. “I rang the bell hoping soldiers would complete their service safely without suffering injuries like mine,” he told the Seoul Shinmun.

His wish went unfulfilled. Three soldiers from the Army’s 25th Division were injured by another North Korean mine. Ha has repeatedly called for a society that respects those in uniform. Yet he experienced firsthand how difficult securing recognition can be. In 2019, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs initially classified his injuries as service-related rather than combat-related. Public outrage followed, including accusations that authorities were accommodating North Korea. The classification was eventually changed. “Soldiers live on honor,” Ha said. The incident exposed an absurdity: Soldiers hospitalized at civilian facilities receive nursing care subsidies, while those in military hospitals do not. Decisions concerning disability pensions,