The NHRCK (Chairperson Byung-chul Hyun) made a following recommendation to the Minister of Defense on the promotion of human rights of female soldiers:
1. Provide long-term vision concerning expansion of female soldiers, realize gender equality in the management of military human resources, and establish reasonable operation system that considers the life cycles of female soldiers.
2. Improve access environment to maternity protection for compatibility of work and family, and enhance medical services.
3. Strengthen preventive measures against sexual harassment and sexual violence for safe organizational culture, and improve grievance adjustment system for female soldiers.
4. Strengthen initiatives to relieve discriminatory perception on female soldiers.
As of June 2013, the number of female soldiers amounts to 8,000 people, comprising 4.6% of the total number of military officers. The number continues to increase ever since female soldiers were incorporated into the ordinary soldiers category in 1989 and were embraced by the Korean Army when it opened all arms of service--except artillery, air defense, and military religious affairs--to them.
Although there are increasing demands for improvement of the working environment of female soldiers in a male-centric military society, it is difficult to examine specific human rights situation of female soldiers, as only limited cases of maternity protection for married female soldiers and sexual violence are heard through the media.
The NHRCK conducted surveys on 860 female soldiers, approximately 10.8% of their total number, and held focus group interviews with 92 people affiliated with 16 groups related to female soldiers from April to December 2012 to examine overall human rights situation of female soldiers including the situation concerning female military service and maternity protection and grievance adjustment system. Based on the results, the Commission reviewed policy plans to strengthen promotion of human rights of female soldiers.
The NHRCK hopes that the recommendation would raise awareness on human rights of female soldiers, and seeks to cooperate with relevant organs to bring substantial progress in relieving stereotypes against female soldiers and improve their working conditions.
