A special forces noncommissioned officer in his 20s has died after collapsing during a sparring session at a promotion test for a Korean military martial art, prompting investigations by military authorities and police. His family decided to donate his organs so that his death would be remembered as meaningful, according to officials.
The sergeant, identified only by the initial A, lost consciousness at about 10:50 a.m. on the 10th at a gymnasium at a unit under the Special Warfare Command in Incheon while taking a promotion test in teukgong, a Korean military hand-to-hand combat martial art, military authorities said on the 17th. He was moved to a nearby hospital for treatment but died that day. His family told the hospital they wished to donate his organs.
Military authorities and police believe he showed abnormal symptoms during sparring, one of the components of the promotion test, and are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
"Even in their grief, the family decided to donate his organs so that their son's death could be remembered in a more meaningful way," a military official said.
