Human Rights Commission Launches Ex Officio Investigation into Military Sexual Violence Cases: "We Will Find Solutions" (Comprehensive)

From Air Force to Navy
Repeated Extreme Choices After Sexual Violence Victimization
"Persistent Sexual Violence Rooted in Organizational Culture and Structure"
Comprehensive Review Including Victim Protection Measures

A female Navy sergeant who reported being sexually harassed by a male senior non-commissioned officer was found dead in her dormitory. On the 13th, a military police vehicle passed by the road in front of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, where the sergeant's funeral hall was set up.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has decided to launch an ex officio investigation into the series of sexual violence incidents within the military. The commission plans to reassess the awareness of sexual violence in the military and devise fundamental solutions.

On the 17th, the NHRCK held an extraordinary standing committee meeting and announced the decision to commence an ex officio investigation into sexual violence cases within the military.

The commission explained the reason for the investigation, stating, "Serious human rights violations that have taken victims' lives have occurred repeatedly," and "this is due to the perception that sexual violence in the military is a personal issue between individuals, as well as structural problems that prevent existing systems or manuals from functioning properly."

In 2017, the NHRCK had already issued recommendations related to sexual violence in the military. Following a sexual violence case in the Navy that resulted in the victim's death, the commission recommended measures including ▲strict punishment and fair trials for sexual violence cases ▲protection of victims and appropriate punishment for perpetrators ▲establishment of a dedicated sexual violence department within the Ministry of National Defense ▲and fostering a culture of gender equality within the military.

However, as sexual violence incidents within the military have continued recently, the NHRCK judged that it is necessary to re-examine the awareness of sexual violence in the military through an ex officio investigation. The commission plans to investigate the fundamental reasons why sexual violence incidents persist, whether the relevant units are properly responding to victim reports and whether protection systems are functioning normally, as well as identifying any blind spots in the protection system.

To this end, the NHRCK will investigate related departments including the Ministry of National Defense’s Legal Affairs Office and Investigation Headquarters, the military police units of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, as well as departments related to military barracks policy and gender equality. They will comprehensively review systems and manuals related to sexual violence and prepare improvement measures.

The commission emphasized, "Sexual violence that occurs continuously and repeatedly is not an issue between perpetrators and victims, but stems from organizational culture or structures that enable it," adding, "We will conduct the investigation to establish fundamental solutions across systems, structures, and operational mechanisms beyond resolving individual cases."

This year alone, two non-commissioned officers who suffered sexual violence in the military have taken extreme measures. Earlier, in the Air Force, Staff Sergeant Lee was sexually harassed by a senior in March, and after reporting the harm, took extreme measures in May. Similarly, Navy Staff Sergeant A testified that Sergeant B sexually harassed her on May 27, and she was found dead in her dormitory three days later. Criticism against military authorities is intensifying, especially due to inadequate reporting to superiors, secondary victimization, and concerns that victim protection was not properly ensured.

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