Military Sexual Crimes Investigated and Tried by Civilians... 'Military Court Act' Amendment Passed in Plenary Session

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] On the 31st, the amendment to the Military Court Act, which mandates that military sexual crimes be investigated and tried by civilian investigative agencies and courts from the outset, passed the National Assembly plenary session.

On the afternoon of the same day, the National Assembly resolved the amendment to the Military Court Act, which stipulates that crimes related to sexual offenses, deaths of soldiers, and crimes committed before enlistment be under the jurisdiction of ordinary courts from the first trial stage. The amendment was approved with 135 votes in favor, 63 against, and 29 abstentions out of 227 members present. According to the amendment, the High Military Court will be abolished, and all appeals of military court cases during peacetime will be under the jurisdiction of civilian high courts.

Additionally, the ordinary military courts previously established under the Ministry of National Defense and units at the general officer level or higher will be integrated and reorganized into five military courts under the Ministry of National Defense. The existing system of jurisdiction officers and adjudicators, which operated during both peacetime and wartime, will be revised to operate only during wartime.

This amendment will take effect in July next year.

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