Page 287 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Section

4 Reinforcing Human Rights
Protection for Servicemembers

The MND implements various policies aimed at seeking fundamental solutions for
accidents and human rights violations in barracks in order to reestablish the ROK Armed
Forces as a military that is aligned with the people and trusted by the people. In 2019,
it has introduced the alternative service program for conscientious objectors to military
service based on religion and other reasons to ensure the protection of the constitutional
and human rights of servicemembers. Moreover, to guarantee servicemembers’ right to
stand trial, the MND has transferred the jurisdiction over appellate trials to civilian courts
and improved the punishment system for servicemembers; thus implementing military
justice reforms.

1. Improving Human Rights Protection for Servicemembers

Establishing a Comprehensive Plan The MND has established the 2019-
for Human Rights Policies in the 2023 Comprehensive Plan for Human
Defense Domain Rights Policies in the Defense Domain Chapter 7

with an aim of fostering a human rights
-friendly military culture and amplifying intangible combat power as a result. This
comprehensive plan is a guideline for the mid- to long-term direction for human
rights policies in the military, consisting of 35 detailed tasks for promotion including
5 major tasks, establishment of the military human rights protection off ce (military
ombudsman), expansion of public defender service for servicemembers, and use of
mobile phones for servicemembers after working hours.

Establishing the Military Human As part of the effort to improve human
Rights Protection Office rights situations in the military aimed at
preventing violations of human rights of
servicemembers and improving human rights in the military for damage relief, the
MND will offer its full cooperation with the establishment of the military human
rights protection off ce within the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and
provide full support for the activities carried out by the off ce. For a prompt revision
of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Act, which stipulates the

Chapter 7. Embedding an Inclusive Culture in the Military: With the People, Trusted by the People