[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Joint Committee That Has Become Ineffective

On the afternoon of the 28th, at the Taeguk Hall of the Seoul Defense Convention Center, Seo Wook, co-chairman, is delivering a greeting speech at the launch ceremony of the 'Civil-Military Joint Committee' for improving military culture. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the 'Amendment to Reduce the Authority of Military Courts' passed in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, controversy over the role of the Civil-Military Joint Committee (hereafter Joint Committee) is growing. The Joint Committee was formed under President Moon Jae-in's directive after sexual harassment victim death incidents occurred in the Air Force and Navy, but it only fueled controversy without reaching a conclusion on military courts and ultimately failed at self-reform.

The amendment to reduce the authority of military courts is likely to pass the plenary session following the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The amendment stipulates that three types of crimes?▲military sexual crimes, ▲death incidents of soldiers who are victims of non-military crimes, and ▲crimes committed before enlistment?will be handled by civilian courts from the first trial, not military courts. However, for other crimes, the first trial will be conducted by military courts, and from the second trial onward, civilian courts will handle the cases. If the amendment passes, the High Military Court, which handles the second trial within the military, will no longer be necessary and will disappear into history.

The 4th Subcommittee of the Joint Committee, responsible for improving the military judicial system, passed a 'Proposal to Abolish Military Courts in Peacetime' containing these details on the 18th. They planned to discuss the abolition proposal at the plenary meeting on the 25th. However, in the National Defense Committee's current affairs report on the 21st, the Ministry of National Defense added a footnote stating "Review of concerns regarding the abolition of military courts in peacetime," contrary to the 4th Subcommittee's opinion. As a result, two lawyers who were members of the 4th Subcommittee resigned on the 21st. This is why there is an assessment that discord has arisen due to differences between the Joint Committee and the Ministry of National Defense.

Kim Jong-dae, former Justice Party lawmaker and chair of the 4th Subcommittee, said, "We will continue discussions for reform," adding, "We need to leave grounds so that when another reform is discussed next time, it can be supported."

Some argue that if the Ministry of National Defense opposes every decision made by each subcommittee of the Joint Committee, the existence of the Joint Committee itself becomes meaningless.

The Joint Committee is co-chaired by former Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Chair Park Eun-jung and Minister of National Defense Seo Wook, and consists of four subcommittees: 'Protection of Soldiers' Human Rights and Improvement of Organizational Culture (1st Subcommittee),' 'Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims (2nd Subcommittee),' 'Improvement of Soldiers' Living Conditions (3rd Subcommittee),' and 'Improvement of Military Judicial System (4th Subcommittee).'

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