Jung Kyung-doo: "Creating Conditions That Meet International Standards for Alternative Service Applicants"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-du stated on the 18th that conditions will be created to ensure that young people who wish to serve as alternative service personnel can perform their duties in a manner that respects human rights and meets international standards.

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Reporter Yang Nak-gyu]Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-du stated on the 18th that conditions will be created for young people wishing for alternative service to serve in a manner that complies with human rights and international standards.

Minister Jeong said in a congratulatory message sent to the '2020 Future Military Service Development Forum' hosted by Min Hong-cheol, Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, Kim Byung-gi of the Democratic Party, and the Military Manpower Administration at the National Assembly Members' Office Building large conference room in Yeouido, Seoul, "We are doing our best to ensure that the alternative service system contributes not only to national defense but also at the national level."

Minister Jeong emphasized, "In the future, our military will create conditions so that young people wishing for alternative service due to religious beliefs or other reasons can perform alternative service for 36 months in correctional facilities, etc., in accordance with human rights and international standards. We will ensure that the fairness of military service is maintained at a level that meets the public's expectations."

He also introduced that the military is actively promoting measures based on the 'Improvement Plan for the Alternative Military Service System' finalized in December last year to strengthen fairness and public interest in military service, including ▲ adjusting the number of alternative service assignments ▲ improving working conditions and service methods to encourage sincere service ▲ strengthening service management.

Minister Jeong explained, "Recently, we have been proactively improving related systems and laws to maintain fairness in military service and support the social advancement of soldiers who have completed their service, while preemptively responding to the shortage of future military resources and non-traditional security threats."

He added, "In cases of national crises such as the novel coronavirus infection or when public interest requires, we have revised part of the 'Military Service Act Enforcement Decree' to allow public health doctors to be appointed first and receive military training later, thereby establishing an institutional foundation to secure military medical personnel early in the event of non-traditional security threats."

Minister Jeong added, "We will also strengthen efforts in close cooperation with related organizations such as the Ministry of Education and the Military Manpower Administration so that military service is not a career interruption but an opportunity to prepare for the future and a stepping stone for social advancement, including linking aptitude tests related to military specialties, military career counseling, and post-discharge employment support."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.