On the 2nd, following a firearms-related death incident in the Army, Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek emphasized the establishment of military discipline on the 5th. There have been incidents such as the Air Force's accidental bombing in March and the Navy's maritime patrol aircraft crash in May.
Minister Ahn stated that he held a major commanders' meeting for the establishment of military discipline in person and via video at the Ministry of National Defense's command meeting room and received reports on measures for the establishment of military discipline from the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Attendees included the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chiefs of Staff from each branch of the military, Deputy Commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Commander of the Ground Operations Command, Commander of the 2nd Operations Command, and Marine Corps Commander.
Minister Ahn said, "We held this urgently to thoroughly analyze the causes of various incidents and block the consolidation of connections among them," and added, "When a person trips while walking, it's not the big rock but the small, less visible stones that cause the fall." He further emphasized, "Commanders should not neglect small matters and should activate the system of planning, execution, and review to resolve the issues of complacency and lax military discipline."
He also instructed, "With the attitude of 'the foundation is the way to life,' we must be faithful to the basics and value the lives of our soldiers," and directed, "Implement institutional measures such as fostering a positive military culture and tailored suicide prevention strategies to do our utmost to prevent incidents."
On the 2nd, a 30-something Army captain surnamed A was found dead with gunshot wounds in a walking path in the Su-seong District of Daegu. Police suspect that Captain A illegally removed a K2 rifle and live ammunition and made an extreme choice.