Is the Spread of Unauthorized Secondary Mobile Phones in Barracks a Cause for Concern?

[Financial News] Recently, a case emerged in which a soldier brought an unauthorized secondary mobile phone (unregistered device) and became involved in overseas drug smuggling while on leave. This incident has reignited concerns over the management of soldiers’ mobile phone usage and security gaps. Critics argue that superficial inspections and inconsistent management practices must be addressed. Others, however, contend that the real issue is not the phones themselves, but the need to block criminal infiltration.
According to data submitted by Hwang Hee, a Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker representing Yangcheon-gap, Seoul, to the Ministry of National Defense (MND) on the 18th, there were a total of 47,357 disciplinary actions for violations of mobile phone usage by soldiers from 2020 to 2024. Of these, 33,324 cases (70.4%) involved breaches of usage rules, while 11,782 cases (24.9%) were security violations. Usage rule violations included using phones outside designated times or locations and bringing in devices not registered for submission. Security violations encompassed activities such as photographing military facilities, accessing internal military systems, and transmitting classified information, all of which pose direct threats.
The data also showed that the severity of disciplinary actions has increased overall, with military discipline training cases rising from 610 to 888 and pay reductions from 66 to 758. The report highlighted that unauthorized secondary mobile phones are not subject to registration or storage procedures, making them difficult to monitor and control. As a result, many security violations occur in these 'uncontrollable zones.'
There have also been cases that escalated into actual crimes. Police reported that on the 5th, a Navy private was arrested on charges of participating in cannabis smuggling in Thailand without his commander’s permission while on leave. He had communicated with overseas drug dealers via Telegram Messenger using an unauthorized secondary mobile phone. It was found that his involvement was linked to virtual asset investment communities. In the early days of the policy in 2020, there was even a case where a password was leaked in a KakaoTalk chatroom of a unit in Gangwon Province.
Testimonies from discharged soldiers indicate that bringing unauthorized secondary mobile phones into barracks is not uncommon. Choi, who was discharged in 2020 at age 27, told Financial News, “One or two out of every ten people in the living quarters brought in a personal mobile phone. Even back then, it was not difficult to trade stocks or cryptocurrencies or access overseas communities.” Although there is a rule allowing only one registered device per soldier, inspections mostly rely on formality. Storage and inspection methods also vary by unit, leading to repeated criticism that control is ineffective.
Lawmaker Hwang Hee stated, “Mobile phone use is a basic right and an important communication channel for service members, but the repeated violations, as well as the increase in cases involving military secrets leaks, gambling, and crime, are serious problems. Management and supervision systems must be improved for each unit, and preventive education should be strengthened.”
However, some argue that blaming mobile phone use itself is misguided. They claim that the root cause is the inflow of crime, and it is a misinterpretation to attribute the problem to mobile phones.
Kim Hyung-nam, Secretary-General of the Center for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK), said, “Banning mobile phones will not eliminate crime or misconduct. The key is to block the structures that allow criminal activities such as gambling, investment fraud, and drug trafficking to infiltrate, not to blame the phones themselves.” He further emphasized, “Mobile phones provide soldiers with private space even inside the barracks, reducing conflicts and corruption. Since their introduction, there has been a decrease in abuse and cover-up structures within the military.”
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter