“Strengthen State Responsibility for Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Occurring During Military Service”

https://www.kado.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=2004391

Policy Debate Held by Rep. Heo Young

▲ Rep. Heo Young (Democratic Party, Chuncheon·Cheorwon·Hwacheon·Yanggu District) hosted a policy forum on November 9 at the National Assembly building titled “Prevention of Tinnitus and Hearing Loss During Military Service and Support for Affected Soldiers”. Professor Jin In-ki from Hallym University’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology participated in the discussion. (Photo by Kim Yeo-jin)

Concerns have been raised that the government should take stronger responsibility for soldiers who suffer hearing damage such as tinnitus and hearing loss due to exposure to impulse noises during military service.

Rep. Heo Young hosted the forum to review the current situation and discuss policy alternatives. The event was co-hosted with Rep. Bu Seung-chan, ranking member of the National Defense Committee, to mark Ear Day (September 9). During the forum, Rep. Heo pointed out that only 14.4% of 4,147 applications for tinnitus and hearing loss compensation from 2014 to 2023 were approved, emphasizing that this reflects “the state’s neglect.”

Rep. Heo stated:
“Tinnitus and hearing loss incurred while performing one’s noble duty in national defense leave silent scars. These are not caused by personal negligence, but by clear occupational hazards such as shooting and artillery training. Yet affected soldiers still face despair in front of institutional barriers. We will work with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to establish preventive, compensatory, and treatment systems so that their dedication to the nation does not leave lasting pain.”

▲ Rep. Heo Young hosting the policy forum on November 9. Kim Sung-sik, president of the Military Noise, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss Association, presented on institutional gaps from the perspective of affected veterans. (Photo by Kim Yeo-jin)

Dr. Kim Gyu-sang, chief of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Seoul Medical Center, presented the actual state of hearing damage during military service. Mr. Kim Sung-sik, president of the Military Noise, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss Association, spoke as an affected veteran about the shortcomings of existing support systems.

Mr. Kim, who lost hearing in his left ear due to shooting exercises, said:

“Upon enlistment, soldiers are given only a single, cheap Chinese earplug. It is extremely difficult to have hearing loss recognized as service-related; often it is dismissed as a recurrence of a pre-existing condition. Both preventive policies and post-service measures remain passive, and related budgets are insufficient. Active measures are urgently needed.”

Officials including Oh Ho-seok, Director of Health Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, and Lee Yong-su, Director of Registration Management at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, participated in discussions on hearing protection programs, compensation evaluation procedures, and the need to shift the burden of proof.

Professor Jin In-ki from Hallym University explained recent treatment methods and clinical trials, highlighting the need to expand domestic R&D and train specialized audiology personnel.

Prof. Jin said:“Domestic research and development in tinnitus and hearing loss is still insufficient. Investment should be expanded toward curative approaches, and professional personnel such as audiologists must be actively trained.”

To raise awareness of hearing issues, the forum also featured kiosks for hearing tests and demonstrations of earplugs, attracting attention from attendees.

Kim, Yeo-jin (Reporter)