July 6, 2024
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The Real Crime Diary Blog Sex Crimes Why Sexual Violence in South Korea’s Military Have Driven Some to Suicide | Violation
Sex Crimes

Why Sexual Violence in South Korea’s Military Have Driven Some to Suicide | Violation

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  • July 4, 2024
  • 45 Comments
  • Less than a minute
  • 1 View
  • 3 days ago



South Korea’s 550,000-member military is considered one of its most hierarchical and male-dominant institutions. In a survey conducted by the Defense Ministry in 2019, fewer than one-third of those who said they had experienced sexual assault reported it to the authorities, as most of them felt “nothing would happen.”

In 2021, a 22 year-old female Korean soldier, Lee Yaeram, committed suicide after being repeatedly sexually assaulted by her male colleague. Her death incited national outrage, prompting an amendment of the Military Court Act. The proposal calls for limiting military court to first trials and transferring appeals to civilian courts.

VICE World News speaks to Bang Hyelin, a survivor of sexual violence and former Captain at the ROK Marines about her experiences in South Korea’s military.

VICE World News reached out to South Korea’s Ministry of Defence for comments. We did not receive a response at the time of publication.

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45 Comments

  • Reply
    @Eli-ld7qf July 4, 2024

    This is a disgrace. We need to continue to raise our voices for this to stop

  • Reply
    @sjcobra84 July 4, 2024

    Hello from Australia. The military force globally seems to have alot of these disgusting internal problems. Hazing culture is widespread. I had a school mate who was in the ADF and he was assigned to the commando regiment. When he got discharged, he was a completely different man. Kind of glad that I didn't enlist.

  • Reply
    @pinakibasu5564 July 4, 2024

    is it Gay / Homosexual in nature?

  • Reply
    @jirou6228 July 4, 2024

    Korea men have some serious problems

  • Reply
    @jeremybeau8334 July 4, 2024

    If BTS did their militar service they would probably be the first and the more assaulted in the South Korean Army. They first assault effeminate men.

  • Reply
    @saltyslaty9812 July 4, 2024

    Korea has the most bullshit laws and wonder why these people don’t care about the consequences

  • Reply
    @nightye4395 July 4, 2024

    Pretty done🎉

  • Reply
    @Lachimolala07. July 4, 2024

    In India Indian armies are treated like God 😌❤️

  • Reply
    @jumbomuffin1316 July 4, 2024

    There’s the show side of South Korea and then there’s the real side

  • Reply
    @Duhans700 July 4, 2024

    As a korean, Thank you for covering this issue.

  • Reply
    @kleeblattchen38 July 4, 2024

    5:36 wait… why isn't Switzerland highlighted…

  • Reply
    @ila2409 July 4, 2024

    And yet a lot of Korean men demand Korean women serve in the military. They vow to rape Korean women if female conscription become mandatory

  • Reply
    @yuezhang6110 July 4, 2024

    I think I really understand why so many men willing to join the N room from telegram. What happened in military influenced some of the soldiers become psychopath. It’s just so sad ,the people who supposed to protect the country,in the end the country didn’t do anything to protect them.

  • Reply
    @shayansachinbasu7378 July 4, 2024

    Plot Twist : Kim Jong Un is responsible…

  • Reply
    @AlonsoLioneth July 4, 2024

    This is just awful to hear but it's a serious problem that needs to be addressed over and over until the system stop failing the victims

  • Reply
    @TheTwil1 July 4, 2024

    Good for her speaking up!!

  • Reply
    @kazumayagami7093 July 4, 2024

    Being a female sure is rough…

  • Reply
    @Tsubahi July 4, 2024

    Too many men haven't fully evolved yet. 😐 (They even prey on other men, too!)

  • Reply
    @aitz3747 July 4, 2024

    My heart goes to all these brave women. Stay strong ladies. You're our pride.

  • Reply
    @opportunityknox8575 July 4, 2024

    Men and women are abused in these positions. The law must prevent this, however, the responsibility comes back to the individual…it’s simple, harm no one, keep your hands to yourself and protection is to be for all. It is to be an honour to serve your country, if you can’t do this then what is the point. Power to the people striving to make change and prosecute the evil that thinks this is acceptable. 🙏

  • Reply
    @shukriramlee July 4, 2024

    Doesn't matter how manly the women dress up, they still experienced sexual assault.

  • Reply
    @sansanhorizon July 4, 2024

    I will not think of visiting Korea anymore. I will not be curious about Korea anymore. I will not watch Korean dramas anymore. I will not think of Korea as a modern country anymore. Korean skincare products don't work anyway, just advertising fraud. Thank goodness I didn't step foot in Korea in 2009. I went to Taiwan and Japan but I wasn't interested in Korea. With these videos (on foreigners), I think Korea is worse than I thought/assumed from watching Korean dramas. 2010 in the video is already the 21st century. Not medieval times. Korea therefore is backward, and not a modern thinking country.

  • Reply
    @wendyshoo3476 July 4, 2024

    Problem need to handle men in military have sexual desires. Women presence are red flags.

  • Reply
    @PaPa-ko1vg July 4, 2024

    one solution is to keep the genders separate in the military. I know the F3mnazi are coming for me now

  • Reply
    @novaprime5976 July 4, 2024

    Ah yess, we know Korea is full of cruel and creepy people. We learnt that from Manhwa and Webtoon.

  • Reply
    @courage3875 July 4, 2024

    Hypocrital society. They need to address this issue…I always here a lot of sexual assault in korea, even with foreigners that were not acted by the police…. Sad, they are UN signatories…human rights is a must

  • Reply
    @tt4days346 July 4, 2024

    Training people to be murderers and surprised when they start thinking they are above the law?? 💀. Also I get it's hard to report but the less reports the less chance anything will change 🤷🏾‍♀️

  • Reply
    @foreverworshipjesuschrist3263 July 4, 2024

    I think the military is filled with testosterone and violence because these soldiers have to kill or be killed in any war. Women entering the military should pray to Jesus Christ for protection in such an occupation. This is a man's area of work and women need protection in male work areas.

  • Reply
    @williamong911 July 4, 2024

    Boohoohoo, typical female crying through the media, how pathetically hilarious

  • Reply
    @tathaYm July 4, 2024

    That country thinks they are developed,but their minds are still living in the dark era…such a racist abusive country

  • Reply
    @quirky_geminight July 4, 2024

    She's brave to stand up for herself and be of help with the other victims. Perpetrators are cowardly people who thinks they can do what ever they want and runaway after. A prayer of a healing ♥ for all the victims.

  • Reply
    @Kehranii July 4, 2024

    In the military, it's filled with bad people with bad intentions that lurk among the innocent trainees/soliders.
    That place is so perfect for them that they would completely let their demons loose and commit heinous crimes such as rape, molestation and murder against their own people…. Because their wickedness mix soo well with the enviroment that involves death, rape, murder and destruction.
    There was ALWAYS cases of rape, molestation, sexual violence/abuse, murder in the military for decades.
    So sad that it is STILL HAPPENING.

  • Reply
    @Iexapro July 4, 2024

    I really fear for all minorities in SK since this “male-centric collectivism” mentioned by Kwon In-sook is a reality I fear will only get worse during the Yoon Suk-yeol presidency. Everyone suffers when this is the ideology of the majority, its definitely a problem in many countries where we’re seeing a push for conservative policies.

  • Reply
    @BeautywithFitness1 July 4, 2024

    So called soldiers are protecting their country and rapeing their women ( applied to every country)

  • Reply
    @b_8103 July 4, 2024

    What do you expect from lawful criminals.

  • Reply
    @nightflame9895 July 4, 2024

    Men hate women for not having mediator service and also brag about how they have to do more but when women do join army this is what they do

  • Reply
    @kolwaski8235 July 4, 2024

    When is the BTS track about this dropping

  • Reply
    @kushiacharya July 4, 2024

    The hierarchy or ranking system gives power and ego to the wrong person. And men reporting sexually harassment is already so stigmatized and those in the higher ranks know it. This issue then gets suppressed by the government, because they know in the future Noone will want to serve in the military cause of this. To keep the reputation of the best military, they'll bribe the victim to not say anything. I'm glad people are speaking out.

  • Reply
    @kennyliu5481 July 4, 2024

    Why not just have a separate military for women? With female superiors

  • Reply
    @kennyliu5481 July 4, 2024

    Something is missing. How exactly were these female officers assaulted? Any firsthand accounts?

  • Reply
    @mahimaaa_666 July 4, 2024

    The way she kept saying "this happened to me" instead of "they did this to me" is making me sad . And also it's not korian military they sexually abuse female soldiers in every countries military . Also in police service senior officer assault female officer's I've known rhis by my own

  • Reply
    @this_is_turtle July 4, 2024

    I still remember when Lee's case was 1st blew up. I knew this case, bcs brother's friends put the same post on their IG story. Knowing what happened.. Human really the scariest creature

  • Reply
    @blackrose1083 July 4, 2024

    I suggest before entering into military training you must first know how to defend yourself…learn martial arts

  • Reply
    @The_Super_NOVA July 4, 2024

    Oh wow, I had heard about abuse between males in the Korean military, but I didn't know women were also suffering the same thing!

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