Ministry of National Defense Forms Sexual Violence Prevention Organization Again This Time

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

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Ministry of National Defense is being criticized for increasing only "showcase organizations" every time a sexual-related incident occurs within the military.

On the 7th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it would form and operate a "Task Force (TF) for Sexual Violence Prevention System Improvement" in response to the sexual harassment and death case of a female non-commissioned officer in the military. In 2018, the Ministry had established the Gender Equality Committee under Vice Minister Park Jae-min to eradicate sexual violence within the military.

The TF, led by Kim Sung-jun, Director of the Personnel Welfare Office, will re-examine the current status and system of the military's response to sexual violence incidents and prepare fundamental improvement measures. It will be composed of a "Council" including personnel chiefs from the Army, Navy, Air Force Headquarters, and the Personnel Director of the Marine Corps Command, as well as three subcommittees: ▲ Education and Victim Protection ▲ Unit Operation and Organizational Culture ▲ Investigation and Inquiry.

Additionally, the Ministry explained that an "External Expert Advisory Group" composed of civilian members of the Ministry's Gender Equality Committee and members recommended by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will be established to participate in each subcommittee to enhance policy expertise and actively reflect public interest and demands.

However, issues have surfaced such as a female Air Force non-commissioned officer not receiving proper assistance despite consulting about sexual violence grievances, and the Air Force Headquarters' delayed reporting to the Ministry of National Defense, leading to criticism that this is not a practical countermeasure.

A government official said, "The system that exposes both the reporter and the victim within the military must be improved first," and added, "Creating only organizations to eradicate sexual violence is nothing more than superficial administration."