Page 255 - 2018 Defense White Paper

Section 3 Reinforcing the Human Rights

Protection for Servicemembers

The MND carries out various policies aimed at seeking fundamental solutions for accidents and human rights
violations in the barracks and establishing armed forces that is trusted by the people and is always with
the people. It is also refining its human rights protection systems to ensure the meaningful protection of the
constitutional and human rights of servicemembers. In addition to guaranteeing their right to stand trial, the
MND is also implementing military justice reforms including the transfer of jurisdiction over appellate trials to
civilian courts, and reinforcing the independence and fairness of military courts and prosecutors.

1. Improving the Human Rights Protection for Servicemembers

| Institutional Reforms for Probes into and Fundamental Resolution of Suspicious
Deaths | The MND has been proactively suggesting solutions for accidents where the bereaved
family members raised suspicion regarding the cause of death to resolve their suspicion and
regain the trust of the people. In September 2017, it formed the Investigation and Institutional
Chapter 6
Reform Group for Suspicious Deaths in the Military to formulate measures at the MND
level. The group has been working toward building a one-stop support system that combines
reinvestigation, probe, and death on duty assessment. In addition, to improve the reliability

of the initial investigation of deaths in the military, and lower the barrier for death on duty
recognition and compensation, the MND amended the Enforcement Decree of the Military
Personnel Management Act. In September 2018, the MND made notable improvements on

the credibility of investigations on suspicious deaths by launching the Committee to Ascertain
the Truth of Military Accidents Resulting in Death. Going forward, the MND will continue to
exert ef forts to expand the responsibilities of the state toward, and ensure the best treatment for,

servicemembers who sacrif iced their lives in the course of their service.

Section 3 Reinforcing the Human Rights Protection for Servicemembers 253