Health · Mental Health · 14 hrs ago
571 military personnel died by suicide in South Korea from 2016 to 2025
South Korea’s military recorded 571 suicides among service members from 2016 through 2025.
The deaths included 397 in the Army, 85 in the Air Force, 68 in the Navy and 21 in the Marine Corps.
Suicides made up 73.8% of deaths classified as preventable by the military during that period.
A previous prevention plan tracked suicide rates per 100,000 people, but the rate exceeded its target in both 2021 and 2022.
The current 2023–2027 plan has no suicide-prevention performance indicator.
Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hong-chul said the change leaves no measure for judging whether prevention policies are succeeding.
He called for measurable targets and stronger oversight so the policies can be assessed and improved.
South Korea’s military recorded 571 deaths by suicide from 2016 to 2025, according to data submitted by the Defense Ministry.
The Army accounted for 397 deaths, the Air Force 85, the Navy 68 and the Marine Corps 21.
Suicides made up 73.8% of 774 military deaths classified as preventable during the period.
A lawmaker criticized the ministry for omitting suicide-prevention performance indicators from its current plan.
The previous plan’s suicide-rate targets were exceeded in both 2021 and 2022.
- Who
- 571 South Korean military personnel died by suicide.
- What
- Data showed military suicide deaths over a 10-year period. Lawmaker Min Hong-cheol criticized the Defense Ministry for not setting performance indicators in its current suicide-prevention plan.
- When
- From 2016 to 2025; the figures were reported on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea’s military.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea’s military recorded 571 deaths by suicide.
The Defense Ministry’s suicide-prevention plan used the suicide rate per 100,000 people as a performance indicator.
The recorded rate was 14.1, above the target of 8.6.
The recorded rate was 12.4, above the target of 9.6.
The current suicide-prevention plan did not set a performance indicator.
- Total military suicide deaths, 2016–2025
- 571
- Army deaths
- 397
- Air Force deaths
- 85
- Navy deaths
- 68
- Marine Corps deaths
- 21
- Share of preventable deaths classified as suicide
- 73.8% of 774 deaths
1 source
What people are saying
Since the target was not met, it is as if the target itself was removed, leaving no measure to assess the success or failure of prevention policies.
Performance indicators that can be measured should be established, and the performance-management system should be improved so that prevention measures to protect the lives of service members can be evaluated and strengthened.