Not related to this article. [Getty Images Bank]
Not related to this article. [Getty Images Bank]

An Army sergeant has been referred to military prosecutors after forcing a subordinate to do push-ups so relentlessly that the soldier developed rhabdomyolysis — a condition in which muscle tissue breaks down.

The Army's 3rd Wide-Area Investigation Unit referred Sergeant A to the Army Prosecutor's Office on Friday on charges of abuse of authority and assault causing bodily injury, according to the victim's family and military authorities.

Sergeant A is accused of forcing Corporal B to perform push-ups under duress on March 9 at a fitness facility of the 15th Division in Cheorwon-gun.

During the incident, Sergeant A grabbed the back of Corporal B's training jacket and repeatedly lifted and lowered him while ordering him to "stop slacking and go all the way down," forcing him to continue the exercise.

Corporal B pleaded multiple times to stop, saying "I'm in too much pain, sir" and "I don't think this is right," but Sergeant A did not relent. The soldier ultimately performed nearly 100 push-ups.

Corporal B subsequently experienced severe pain in both arms. Medical tests showed his creatine kinase (CK) enzyme level had surged to 77,380 — hundreds of times the normal range — leading to a rhabdomyolysis diagnosis and two weeks of hospitalization.

The case was initially handled by the 31st District Investigation Unit under the 3rd Wide-Area Investigation Unit. Following media coverage and the public attention it drew, the headquarters investigation team took over in June and continued the probe.

Military police determined the charges were substantiated based on statements from unit personnel and the victim's medical records.

The victim's family visited the Ministry of National Defense to submit a petition signed by more than 4,500 people — gathered both online and offline — calling for severe punishment, and urged a thorough investigation and strict penalties.

President Lee Jae-myung also weighed in on the case, expressing concern that "there are public worries that outdated barracks practices — like irrational punitive exercises — are still occurring."


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