The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) recommended to the minister of national defense and commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration that the following be redressed in order to improve the human rights conditions of soldiers experiencing hardship in adapting to military service:
1. To secure clinical psychologists at the Military Manpower Administration, training centers, and replacement depots concerned, and take other necessary actions so that persons who are likely to have difficulties in adjusting to military service may be detected in advance during the physical examination for the draft;
2. To encourage soldiers to use decent language at all times, promote various communication channels, and include courses on counseling and management of soldiers with adaptation problems in initial and supplementary training for military officers in order to address the factors causing soldiers to suffer hardship in adapting to military service;
3. To guarantee the position and reasonable working environment of professional counselors on basic rights and deploy a greater number of such counselors as soon as possible to ensure soldiers' basic rights; cause them to establish a cooperation system with the NHRCK; and publicly disclose the status of their utilization;
4. To subsidize and ensure professionalism in the Vision Camp (division-level armed forces psychological treatment program for soldiers experiencing difficulty adjusting to military service or at high risk of committing suicide, etc.), and earn public trust in the military's efforts regarding soldiers in need of special protection and care by keeping confidentiality and coordinating relevant matters with guardians; and
5. To enhance professionalism in examination, at the stage of discharge, on whether soldiers are competent for active duty by involvement of army psychiatrists, and introduce a program of public service for soldiers found qualified for 'continuous service'; and establish new status classifications for military personnel who are found to be mentally ill or have committed suicide to ensure reasonable compensation for mental and physical trauma incurred by men in uniform in carrying out the sublime obligation of defending the nation.
In handling complaints filed with the NHRCK against human rights abuses within the military, it determined that an institutional effort should be made to improve the human rights status of soldiers experiencing difficulties in adjusting to military service. The NHRCK investigated human rights conditions of soldiers with adaptation problems in 2006. The latest policy recommendation is based on (i) findings of the investigation, and expert debates; (ii) meetings of the specialized military human rights committee; (iii) statistical analysis of the relationship between adaptation problems and accidents in the Armed Forces; and (iv) analysis of complaints concerning adaptation problems filed with the NHRCK since its launch through 2006.
A total of 372 complaints against human rights abuses in the military were submitted to the NHRCK from its establishment through 2006. Of these, 107 requested clarification of causes of death. Forty one of these 107 complaints (38.3%) were found to pertain to problems with adaptation to military service. Of 69 complaints requesting punishment of persons who perpetrated cruel acts, 61 (88.4%) were related to adaptation problems. The NHRCK determined that it was necessary to take proactive measures to address the situation.
According to a 2006 investigation by the Armed Forces, 697 out of 1,085 (64.2%) escapes from military units per year were due to adaptation problems, as were many suicides and assaults. This situation reaffirms the need for comprehensive actions on behalf of soldiers suffering from adaptation problems.
The findings from the NHRCK investigation into human rights conditions of soldiers with adaptation problems conducted in 2006, expert debates, and meetings of the specialized military human rights committee indicate that clinical psychologists should be secured to detect persons who are likely to experience difficulties in adjusting to military service at the draft stage. In addition, it was found to be necessary to encourage soldiers to use decent language, promote various communication channels, and include courses on counseling and management of soldiers with adaptation problems in officer training. It was also proposed that professional counselors on basic rights be secured at the earliest possible date and that a cooperation system with the NHRCK be established with the status of their utilization disclosed to the outside. It was noted that the Vision Camp should be subsidized; its professionalism enhanced; and soldiers requiring special protection and care properly managed. It is imperative to enhance the professionalism of examiners who determine whether soldiers are competent for active duty and to allow soldiers found qualified for continuous service to render public service. It is also necessary to revisee the status classifications to ensure reasonable compensation for mental and physical trauma incurred by military personnel who became mentally ill or committed suicide in carrying out the sublime obligation of defending the nation.
The NHRCK noted that no comprehensive status investigation has been conducted, with no improvement actions taken so far regarding soldiers having difficulties in adapting to military service. As shown by the shooting rampage at a guard post in 2005, adjustment problems should be viewed as a serious societal issue, not an issue of individual soldiers. Accordingly, the NHRCK recommended a policy aimed at improving the human rights conditions of soldiers, particularly those with adaptation problems, based on an overall review including an analysis of problems associated with them.
The NHRCK lauds the military's consistent endeavor to improve the human rights conditions of soldiers including an effort to ameliorate barracks culture. It also expects that the latest recommendation will bring about a dramatic and substantive improvement in the human rights conditions of men in uniform.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001, offering investigation and remedy services for Korean citizens and foreigners residing in Korea against human rights violations and discrimination. The Commission provides policy recommendations and remedial action against human rights infringements, collaborates with international human rights organizations and implements educational programs to improve the human rights culture.
