Multicultural Soldier 'Jjap Korea', Army Members Labeled as 'Ching Chong', Military Police Investigation Underway
Evidence of bullying has been confirmed in the diary of a multicultural soldier who threw himself from a barracks after being ostracized by fellow soldiers.
According to military sources on the 28th, 22-year-old Private Kim, affiliated with an army unit in Goyang City, jumped from the second floor of the barracks on April 23 and sustained severe injuries, currently receiving treatment in the hospital for the past three months.
In the diary revealed by MBC, Kim wrote in December of last year that he felt frustrated because "I was always being given the cold shoulder whenever I did something," "It was hard to breathe," and "I always have nightmares."
In a diary entry from January of this year, Kim recorded that fellow soldiers called him 'Jjajang' and 'Jjap Korea,' and he had to ask another colleague what those terms meant.
Additionally, there are indications that his peers offered him medicine when he was sick but did not actually give it to him, and that he experienced bullying during training and daily life.
Even during hospital treatment, Kim wrote on his phone that "my heart has collapsed due to isolation and ongoing pressure from my colleagues."
Private Kim, born to a North Korean defector mother in China, is reported to have acquired South Korean nationality following his mother and enlisted in the army at the end of last year.
Kim's family alleges there are questionable aspects to the unit's initial response regarding the incident.
Right after the incident, the unit stated in their report that he "jumped out of the window and suffered injuries," but three months later added that he was "having difficulties communicating in Korean, resulting in slow adaptation."
In response, Kim's mother said, "I sent a healthy child to protect the country, and I received such devastating news… After reading the incident report, it seems everything is my child's responsibility."
The military police have registered one colleague for investigation based on the issues raised by Kim's family and are currently investigating the factual circumstances among the fellow soldiers.
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