Until the number of suicides in 2021 was counted and released, the Ministry of National Defense, civic groups, and researchers evaluated that the suicide rate of soldiers in recent years has decreased significantly as a result of the Korean military's suicide prevention policy showing some effect. It is also emphasized that the suicide rate per 100,000 people is lower than that of all males in their 20s (19-23 people). It is the result of a combination of various factors, such as availability of reporting and counseling channels, such as the Defense Helpline providing practical help in overcoming military personnel’s psychological and physical difficulties, social demand for improvement of military human rights, legal requirements for guaranteeing military human rights, such as the ‘Framework Act on Military Status and Service,’ and strengthening military human rights education.391) Of course, there were opinions that such evaluations needed to be cautious. It is too early to conclude that the decrease in the military suicide rate is due to the military's suicide prevention policy, as the suicide rate in Korea also showed a decrease during the same period. Moreover, comparing the suicide rate with the general population is inappropriate, considering that many soldiers with mental illness or difficulty adapting to military service, which have a significant effect on suicide, are discharged early,392) and the difficulty of attempting suicide due to the nature of being soldiers who live a controlled life in a group setting.393) Overseas, the suicide rate of soldiers is also known to be lower than that of the general public,394) and the standardized mortality ratio of the British military compared to the general population395) has been reported as 0.58 (95% confidence interval standard, 0.54 to 0.63).396) 391) National Assembly Legislative Research Service, Status of Military Human Rights System and Tasks for Improvements, Dec. 16, 2021. 392) As of 2020, a total of 27,274 soldiers were discharged without completing their service period after being determined as unfit for active duty, over a 5-year period, of which 21,349 (78%) were discharged early due to psychological factors such as mental illness or difficulty adjusting to military service. 393) SBS, Human Rights in the Military, Sep. 4, 2022. 394) Similar to the ‘healthy worker effect,’ even in the case of the military group, the people with physical and mental vulnerabilities are screened through physical examinations, and lower mortality rate is reported because they are required to maintain a certain level of physical health during the service period. Moreover, it can be taken into account that soldiers live in a group setting where it is difficult to commit suicide, even though the life in the military can increase stress due to lack of freedom. 395) The Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) is a comparison of the observed event frequency with the expected incidence rate in the standard population, and is calculated as 1 if the two are equal. If less than 1, it is lower than the standard population, and if greater than 1, it is higher. 396) Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, Analysis of Military Suicide Rates, KIDA Defense, No. 1788, Feb. 2020. 167