An appellate court on Friday ruled that a former soldier who developed an anxiety disorder should be acknowledged as a person of national merit despite there being no proven cause and effect between his service and condition.
Judge Kim Mun-seok of Seoul High Court overturned a lower court’s order and ruled in favor of 29-year-old Kim demanding the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs grant him state compensation for the disorder that he claimed stemmed from severe stress while serving in the military.
“Taking into account that Kim is a very quiet and reserved person, the tasks given to him in a secluded and strict barracks seem to have affected the disorder’s manifestation,” Kim said.
The plaintiff was admitted to the military in 2007. After completing his service he applied to be acknowledged as a person of national merit, claiming that frequent drills and duties as well as bullying from his comrades prompted his illness.
The ministry refused, citing no proof of his claims. The authorities said there was no evidence of bullying or ill treatment of him to have caused his condition. They cited the likelihood of a hereditary factor.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldm.com)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
