USFK Security Guard Believed to Have Committed Suicide While On Duty
This is the first time I have heard of something like this happening:
A 57-year-old South Korean security guard was found dead in an apparent suicide at a U.S. military base in Ujeongbu, South Korea, on Thursday, police said.
The officer, identified only by his last name Cha, was found with a gunshot wound in his head by a colleague at a guard post in the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, at around 1:20 a.m.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead.
In the 3.3-square-meter sentry post, a 45-caliber revolver provided by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) for security purposes was found, they said. Cha was working alone when the incident took place.
He left what was seen as a suicide note at the site, referring to debts he was suffering from, according to police. Police said they will investigate the details of the incident based on testimonies from Cha’s colleagues and the bereaved family. [Korea Times]
“a 45-caliber revolver provided by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) for security purposes was found,”
Ah… the latest is WWI weaponry.
Like most apartments in Korea, there is a security guard at the entrance of my building. The guard works by himself (I think it’s a 48 hour shift). It’s the same two guys who trade off shifts and I’m guessing they are both in their late 60s. One of them is quite friendly – always a warm greeting, quick to hit the button to open the door for you, delivers packages to your door, etc. The other guy always looks like he’s pissed off at life … never smiles or opens the door for you … pretty much avoids any kind of interaction. My guess is that he thinks life sucks because he has to work past retirement age as a guard in a building occupied by wealthy Koreans who mostly look down their nose at him.
It’s a sh!tty job … but someone has to do it. Seems like some make the best of it … and others just get pissed off that their fate if life was to work as a security guard.
I wonder how well the civilian guards at the US military installations are paid compared to a similar security job in Korea?
A lot of these security guards make less than 2000 USD and it shrinks with each competing contract. If you own an APT and have wife/2 kids, it is the edge of poverty. maybe dude had life insurance and his one year anti-suicide clause was past and free.
While at IMCOM-P most of the KGS I talked to about working for the gov. under USFK told me the usual you hear about a government job… the pay isn’t as high but the benefits are better and the security of life-long employment is why they take them.