Two more suspected suicides by South Korean soldiers in troubled unit near DMZ

The South Korean military said yesterday that two conscripts had been found dead in an apparent suicide, the latest in a series of incidents fuelling concern over young soldiers serving in isolated frontline units.

The two unnamed corporals, both in their early 20s, were found hanged at one of their homes while on leave, a defence ministry spokesman said.

Both men were in the 28th Infantry Division serving near the border with North Korea and had been placed on a list of soldiers requiring special monitoring due to concerns over their mental stability, he said.

One of them was deemed unfit to serve last year but continued at the request of his mother.

The soldier had attempted suicide last October, Yonhap News Agency said.

Investigations are under way into whether the two corporals were bullied.

Five soldiers in the same division were arrested last month on manslaughter charges over the death of a 23-year-old private.