Suicides account for majority of military deaths: defense ministry

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- Suicides have accounted for the majority of all deaths among soldiers in the past five years, a defense ministry report showed Sunday. According to the ministry data, 556 soldiers died while in uniform from 2007 to June 30 this year, for an annual average of 123.5. There were 121 casualties in 2007, and it rose to 134 in 2008 before dipping to 113 in 2009 and then 219 the following year. Through the first six months of this year, 59 soldiers have died, the report showed. Of the 556, 358 committed suicide, accounting for about 64 percent of all deaths. Traffic accidents were next on the list, having claimed 75 lives. Each year, suicides have consistently accounted for 60 percent to 70 percent of deaths, the report said. A military official said the defense ministry has been making continuous efforts to eliminate physical and verbal abuse inside barracks, which have been cited as a major cause of suicide.