By Kang Seung-woo
The Ministry of National Defense has decided to set up a human rights council in the armed forces to prevent abuse in barracks.
The ministry said Sunday that it had come up with a revision to its regulations on human rights.
Under this, the council will be responsible for drawing up a comprehensive plan for human rights policies and education, and monitoring whether those rules are properly implemented or not.
A defense official in charge of legal affairs will serve as chairman of the council. Army, Navy and Air Force officers dealing with legal affairs and outside experts will also be on the council.
The rules also mandate that human rights instructors must be posted in battalions or larger military units to prevent and handle human rights abuse cases. If violations occur, the military will arrange immediate counseling for victims.
Collaboration among human rights counselors, military life mentors and psychiatrists will also be strengthened to provide systematic support for them.
The revised rules also require the military to conduct a human rights assessment when it adopts or revises rules or directives.
Under this, the military is obligated to check if the proposed or revised rules violate human rights.
The defense ministry plans to implement the new rules from Monday.
The revision came following the death of an army private surnamed Yoon. The 23-year-old was beaten to death by senior soldiers in the barracks of the Army's 28th Division in April.
Their consistent, brutal beatings of Yoon caused a stir and had a far-reaching effect on society after media reports detailed how he had been harassed and bullied by five senior soldiers and then died as a result of beatings.
In a country where military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men, parents who have children in the military are anxious for their well-being and harbor suspicions about the military authorities for their failure to prevent such tragic cases.
The defense ministry is under fire for reported attempts by several high-ranking officials to cover up the case.
The Ministry of National Defense has decided to set up a human rights council in the armed forces to prevent abuse in barracks.
The ministry said Sunday that it had come up with a revision to its regulations on human rights.
Under this, the council will be responsible for drawing up a comprehensive plan for human rights policies and education, and monitoring whether those rules are properly implemented or not.
A defense official in charge of legal affairs will serve as chairman of the council. Army, Navy and Air Force officers dealing with legal affairs and outside experts will also be on the council.
The rules also mandate that human rights instructors must be posted in battalions or larger military units to prevent and handle human rights abuse cases. If violations occur, the military will arrange immediate counseling for victims.
Collaboration among human rights counselors, military life mentors and psychiatrists will also be strengthened to provide systematic support for them.
The revised rules also require the military to conduct a human rights assessment when it adopts or revises rules or directives.
Under this, the military is obligated to check if the proposed or revised rules violate human rights.
The defense ministry plans to implement the new rules from Monday.
The revision came following the death of an army private surnamed Yoon. The 23-year-old was beaten to death by senior soldiers in the barracks of the Army's 28th Division in April.
Their consistent, brutal beatings of Yoon caused a stir and had a far-reaching effect on society after media reports detailed how he had been harassed and bullied by five senior soldiers and then died as a result of beatings.
In a country where military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men, parents who have children in the military are anxious for their well-being and harbor suspicions about the military authorities for their failure to prevent such tragic cases.
The defense ministry is under fire for reported attempts by several high-ranking officials to cover up the case.
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