South Korea's armed forces officials said on Tuesday it
will raise charges against four accused soldiers to homicide for the abuse of a
fellow conscript that lead to his death.
These four soldiers face charges due to the alleged cover-up
and for trying to close the case after putting the four on court-martial on
charges of involuntary manslaughter before a human rights group exposed details
of the case in July.
Military commanders pledged to “reform the armed forces
and the treatment of conscripts who serve mandatory two-year terms to dispel
criticism after a series of deadly incidents.”
The victim identified as Private First Class Yoon,
endured weeks of physical abuse and died in April after collapsing and choking
after a pounding by the four accused soldiers in his unit despite knowing that
he had become extremely weak, a military prosecution official said.
President Park Geun-hye expressed his dismay and called
for the military to correct a culture of violence that has made parents not to
allow their sons serve.
While the South Korea's army chief resigned last month
after taking the liability for the case.
The Defence Ministry
recently presented a set of measures including permitting family visits on
weekdays and enhancing conditions at barracks.
