Oh Younggeun, New Military Human Rights Protection Officer, Makes First Official Visit to Army Training Center

Guidance on Redress Procedures for Human Rights Violations During Military Service

Oh Younggeun, newly appointed as both a Human Rights Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission and the Military Human Rights Protection Officer, visited the Korea Army Training Center as his first official engagement. There, he introduced the military human rights protection system to new recruits and their families.

Oh Younggeun, Standing Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (right), is taking a commemorative photo after receiving a certificate of appointment from Prime Minister Kim Minseok at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 20th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The National Human Rights Commission announced that on March 16, Officer Oh visited the enlistment screening station at the Korea Army Training Center and explained the functions and roles of the Military Human Rights Protection Officer system to recruits and their families. Officer Oh was appointed as the third Military Human Rights Protection Officer on February 6 by presidential nomination.

Officer Oh provided guidance to recruits and their families on procedures and reporting methods for seeking redress in the event of human rights violations during military service. He emphasized that service members are "citizens in uniform" who uphold human rights as members of a democratic society. He also met with Ryu Seungmin, head of the Korea Army Training Center, to review the current status of human rights education at the center and called for meticulous management to ensure that trainees complete their training without experiencing human rights violations. He further requested that efforts to promote the Military Human Rights Protection Officer system be strengthened.

Officer Oh stated, "Through this visit, I hope to mark a new start for the Military Human Rights Protection Officer and to closely monitor the human rights conditions of service members, fulfilling my responsibilities when needed."

The Military Human Rights Protection Officer investigates human rights violations or discriminatory acts occurring within the military and, when necessary, recommends corrective measures and policy improvements. The system was established in July 2022 to strengthen the protection of human rights in the military.

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