A Statistcal Observation on Deaths occurred in the First Army Group during the Year of 1996.

Korean J Leg Med. 1997 May;21(1):123-128. Korean.

Department of Pathology, Wonju Army Hospital

This is a statistical observation based on data of deaths occurred in the first army group(1A) of Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) and data brought to Wonju Army Hospital for medicolegal autopsy by all of Military Police Corps (MPC) in 1A during the year of 1996. The report aims to reveal facts on various causes of death of military members in attempt to analyse 70 cases statistically and differences between military members and civillians. The following are the summary of results ; 1. The total numbers of death in 1A were 70 cases and autopsy rate was 17.1%(12 cases). All cases were males. 2. The violent deaths were 60 cases(85.7%) and the natural deaths were 10 cases(14.3%). 3. The percentage of deaths of soldiers was 81.4%(the most), sergeants was 8.6%, officers was 5.7%, others was 4.3%. The group of the private (25.7%) and the private first class (25.7%) was the leading group of death by the rank. 4. For deaths due to injuries, the percentage of deaths due to gunshut injury was 51.2%, traffic accident was 30.1%, explosion of bomb was 7.0%, fall was 7.0% and blunt injury was 4.7%. 6. For the natural deaths, 10 cases were recorded and death due to neoplasm was taking the most of the total percentage with 40%. 7. For the violent deaths, the percentage of accidental death was 42.4%, suicide was 40.7% and homicide was 16.9%. These results suggest that suicide by firearm and traffic accident including military owned vehicle could be the major cause of death in army, and intensive management for group of the private and the private first class could be important to reduce the number of death.