• Korean Security Journal
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• no.33
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• pp.7-25
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• 2012

It is very difficult for ordinary people to commit suicide bombing because of two reasons. First off, suicide bombers have to sacrifice themselves. Moreover, suicide bombers should kill innocent people who are not directly related to their goals. However, suicide bombing increase and 2,670 people were killed in 2011 due to suicide bombing. Ropoport indicated that suicide bombing is related to the fourth wave in modern terrorism. This study explored the current situation of suicide bombing and analyze suicide bombers' motivation with several cases. The suicide bombers' motivations were explained by two categories, which are individual and organizational(or social) aspects. The individual aspect included the loss of family, trauma, and distorted recognition of society. The organizational(or social) aspect consisted of religion, ideology, and strategy. It was found that these aspects influence suicide bombing. There was no suicide bombing in Korea, but we need to prepare for suicide bombing because of high possibility.