Page 58 - 2020 Defence White Paper

of additional director-general and director-level positions in the MND to the civilian
workforce; (b) reduction in the period of mandatory military service by 64 days in
the Army; (c) downsizing the total number of general officers by 46; (d) increase in
the proportion of female servicemembers to 7.4% and improvements in their working
conditions; (e) development of force operational capability based on advanced ICTs
including Big Data and IoT and the installation of scientific training centers for
reserve forces with the introduction of virtual simulation shooting equipment; and
(f) expansion of the scientific training system such as the application of the smart
reserve force training management system. Moreover, further improvements have
been made management, as well as installation of community-friendly military
facilities by relaxing and lifting military installation protection zones (428.8㎢, which
is 147 times the size of Yeouido), including civilian control line and the removal of
barbed-wire fences (34.7㎞) along coastlines and rivers. To respond to transnational
and nonmilitary security threats in relation to COVID-19, the MND has expanded
the existing task of "reinforcing professional competencies in preparation for
terrorism and disaster" to a more comprehensive task of "developing non-traditional
threat defense response system" and is proactively enhancing the military’s response
capabilities by developing relevant laws and systems, such as improving structures
and organizations, and strengthening the military’s support capabilities.
Regarding the barracks culture, the Military Service Act was revised in December
2019 to provide an alternative option to military service for those who object to
conscription based on religious beliefs; in August 2020, the military disciplinary
guardhouse system was replaced with human rights-friendly military training to

guarantee servicemembers’ human rights. Also, the a probe committee investigating
deaths in the military was established to support the efforts to ascertain the truth of
questionable deaths in the military. Furthermore, the MND has drastically improved
the service conditions for enlisted servicemembers through measures such as a
pay raise (i.e., KRW 540,900 for an army sergeant in 2020), increase in passes after
work hours on weekdays, full permission to use mobile phones, self-development
subsidies (KRW 100,000 per person in 2020), and a 50% increase in financial aid
to attend online college courses. The MND also improved the housing support
system to increase the number of officers who own a house and strengthened its
employment support for discharged soldiers while shaping the conditions to enable
enlisted servicemembers to fully concentrate on their duties by making it easier to
use military hospitals, as well as simplifying procedures for using private hospitals.
Furthermore, designation of adjudicators and reduction of punishment by officers
with convening authority are being strictly controlled and monitored, while the

56 2020 Defense White Paper