Increase in Desertion Cases of Military Personnel Abroad Reveals Gaps in Departure Management

Recently, cases of military personnel deserting to overseas destinations by taking flights during their leave have been occurring in succession.

Some of the deserters remain unaccounted for as of now.

As a result, concerns have been raised regarding serious gaps in the departure management system for military personnel.

Corporal A, who was serving in Paju, received a leave of absence on December 5 of last year to undergo shoulder surgery and was hospitalized in a domestic hospital. However, he secretly left the hospital and traveled to Incheon International Airport to board a flight to Japan.

He lived in hiding across various regions in Japan for about 100 days before being arrested by local police on charges of illegal residence and was forcibly deported back to our military after approximately two months of investigation. It is reported that Corporal A left the country to avoid punishment due to a history of failing to repay borrowed money from fellow service members and being involved in online transaction fraud.

He lived in hiding across various regions in Japan for about 100 days before being arrested by local police on charges of illegal residence.

Half of the desertion cases abroad in the past decade have concentrated in the first half of this year.

Similar cases of desertion abroad, such as that of Corporal A, have been rapidly increasing recently. Notably, half of the desertion cases that have occurred in the past decade took place in the first half of this year alone.

What is even more concerning is that a soldier who deserted to the United States in April of this year has yet to be apprehended as of four months later.

The fundamental reason that allows such desertions to occur is the lack of a system to preemptively block active-duty soldiers from leaving the country.

While social service personnel cannot pass through departure checks without prior permission, active-duty soldiers can depart without any particular restrictions.

Currently, the military requires the approval of commanders, but this has been criticized as being merely a post-action measure that lacks effectiveness.

Representative Kang Dae-sik from the People Power Party (National Defense Committee of the National Assembly) emphasized, "I believe the Ministry of National Defense needs to establish fundamental measures to prevent unauthorized departures by linking with the immigration management system." In response, the Ministry of National Defense stated that it would strengthen education to prevent recurrence and deal harshly with violations.

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