Military Sexual Violence Twice That of Jeju Island... The Only Unit Nationwide Without a Sexual Grievance Counselor

The Marine Corps 6th Brigade, located on Baengnyeongdo Island, has been revealed to be the only unit nationwide unable to hire a sexual grievance specialist counselor. As military sexual violence has emerged as a social issue, the military has expanded the hiring of specialized counselors, but the Marine Corps 6th Brigade has failed to recruit a counselor for three consecutive years due to avoidance of duty in isolated areas.

According to data on the hiring status of specialized counselors by military units submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to Kang Dae-sik, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the People Power Party, as of last year, all 46 authorized positions for sexual grievance specialist counselors at the army division level or higher were filled. The Navy had all 21 authorized positions filled at the fleet level or higher, and the Air Force had all 19 authorized positions filled at the wing level or higher. However, the Marine Corps had 7 out of 8 authorized positions filled at the division level or higher, falling short by one. The only unit that failed to hire a sexual grievance specialist counselor was the Marine Corps 6th Brigade.

Sexual grievance specialist counselors are professionals who provide counseling on sexual-related grievances within the military, as stipulated by the Basic Act on the Status and Service of Military Personnel. They were first introduced in 2014 following a military sexual violence incident involving a high-ranking commander.

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The Marine Corps 6th Brigade, which guards Baengnyeongdo, Daecheongdo, and Socheongdo Islands on the westernmost front, has not been able to hire a sexual grievance specialist counselor since 2020. Although recruitment was conducted this year as well, there have been no applicants so far. In contrast, the Yeonpyeong unit, which is relatively closer to the mainland among the northwestern island regions, hired one counselor. This contrasts with the Marine Corps Headquarters located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where six people applied for one sexual grievance specialist counselor position.

The Baengnyeongdo area experiences frequent military sexual violence incidents. As of 2021, sexual violence cases accounted for 31% of incidents occurring within the Marine Corps 6th Brigade, whereas the Marine Corps 9th Brigade, located in Jeju, had 14.3% of incidents related to sexual violence. This is nearly twice as high.

Citizens are visiting the condolence altar at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on June 6, 2021, to pay their respects to the late Sergeant Lee Yeram, who endured sexual violence by a senior and attempts at persuasion within the Air Force before taking her own life. / Seongnam - Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

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Victims of sexual violence can request support and protection from sexual grievance specialist counselors according to the sexual violence grievance support system. Unlike general psychological counseling, sexual violence counseling requires specialized counseling due to the criminal nature of the offenses, which involve disciplinary actions and punishments. It demands highly skilled counseling expertise capable of accurately understanding legal knowledge and the psychology of victims. Considering the strict hierarchical nature of military organizations, the counselor’s expertise is especially important.

However, in the case of the Marine Corps 6th Brigade, there is concern that immediate response is difficult because no specialized counselor is stationed there. This area, the westernmost front of the West Sea, is known for its high military tension and geographically isolated, making it a harsh working environment. In Baengnyeongdo, access is only possible twice a day by ferry, and even these are canceled due to sea fog or bad weather. The annual average cancellation rate is 37%. Sexual grievance specialist counselors are required to serve a minimum of two years before rotating, but they can only leave if a successor is appointed, so it seems no one is willing to apply for the position, according to military officials.

Because of this, there are calls for an increase in allowances for isolated areas. The Ministry of National Defense reportedly requested related budget from the Ministry of Economy and Finance last year, but it was not approved. Assemblyman Kang Dae-sik said, "Despite the fact that incidents and accidents are not few compared to inland units, northwestern island units do not even have the personnel to respond to them," adding, "We need to expand the hiring rate of sexual grievance specialist counselors in remote units through improved treatment such as increased allowances."

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