Recommendation to Improve Institutional Arrangements to Enhance the Human Rights of Military Academy Cadets
Commission Calls for Independent Human Rights Protection System, Improved Conduct Regulations, and Diagnosis of Organizational Culture
□ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho, hereinafter "the Commission") issued a recommendation to the Minister of National Defense on June 26, 2026 to enhance the human rights of military academy cadets. The Commission recommended that the Ministry: △ establish an independent human rights protection body; △ improve institutional arrangements related to daily conduct regulations; and △ conduct a diagnosis of organizational culture and strengthen human rights education.
□ In 2025, the Commission conducted a "Survey on the Human Rights Situation and Human Rights Awareness of Military Academy Cadets" and assessed the human rights situation and reviewed institutional practices at the military academies through expert meetings and policy discussions.
○ The survey found that cadets' human rights awareness was generally high, but that 61.9% of respondents had experienced human rights violations or discriminatory treatment, and that a considerable proportion of them had taken no particular action in response.
○ The Commission assessed that these findings suggest cadets may not sufficiently trust, or may face difficulties in making use of, remedy procedures even when they experience human rights violations. Accordingly, the Commission determined that each military academy needs to establish an independent human rights protection system that integrates counseling, grievance handling, and remedy.
□ Having reviewed various regulations governing cadet life, including restrictions on marriage and pregnancy, smoking, dress code when leaving the academy, restrictions on the use of barracks during gaps between classes, and medical treatment procedures, the Commission found that, while the purposes of officer training and the establishment of military discipline are justified, the relevant regulations need to be improved, in light of the principle of proportionality, so as to guarantee the freedom of private life, the general right to freedom of action, the right to rest, and the right of access to medical care.
□ The Commission also noted that the hierarchical organizational culture and closed atmosphere within the military academies can act as factors that discourage cadets from raising human rights concerns and seeking remedies. It therefore found it necessary to conduct a diagnosis of organizational culture and to strengthen the prevention of human rights violations and members' responsible responses through human rights education and bystander intervention programs.
□ The Commission stated, "Since cadets are the future officers who will lead the military organization, it is important to lay the institutional groundwork so that, from the academy stage onward, they can experience a human-rights-friendly organizational culture and internalize the value of respect for fundamental rights," emphasizing the need to improve the relevant institutional arrangements.
