Human Rights Commission Conducts Ex Officio Investigation on Protection System for Soldiers Mobilized in Disasters

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has decided to investigate the protection system for soldiers deployed at disaster and accident sites.

On the 20th, Marines are paying their respects at the condolence altar set up in the Kim Dae-sik Hall within the 1st Marine Division in Pohang, for the late Corporal Chae Su-geun, who died while searching for a missing person in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, the NHRCK announced that it has decided to launch an ex officio investigation titled "Protection System for Military Personnel Mobilized for Disaster Response" to examine the status of guaranteeing the right to life and safety of soldiers deployed at disaster and accident sites.

On the 19th, the late Corporal Chae Su-geun was swept away by a rapid current and died while searching for missing persons in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk. The NHRCK Military Human Rights Protection Committee conducted an on-site inspection and determined that the lack of an adequate protection system for military personnel mobilized for disaster response was a major cause of the accident.

The NHRCK plans to continuously monitor the investigation by law enforcement agencies to clarify the responsibility for the death incident. The NHRCK stated, "A comprehensive review of the system is necessary to prevent serious human rights violations, such as infringement on the right to life of soldiers deployed at disaster sites due to inadequate protection systems," and added, "We will analyze the protection and rest rights of soldiers performing dangerous tasks during disaster site support and consider improvement measures if necessary."

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