La traducción al español está en camino; mientras tanto se muestra la versión en inglés.
Korea's defense ministry rejects housing aid for civilian staff in remote areas
En breve
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has refused a National Human Rights Commission recommendation to include military civilian employees working in remote and border areas in military housing support, the commission said on October 8. The ministry said giving civilian employees the same housing support as soldiers would be unfair to other public servants, but it agreed to revise a rule forcing civilian employees out of officers' quarters within two months and to allow them in-hospital dispensing of medicines.
Leer la noticia completa 2 min de lectura
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has declined a National Human Rights Commission recommendation to include military civilian employees working in remote and border areas in military housing support, the commission said on October 8. The commission had recommended in April that the ministry improve the treatment of civilian employees in such vulnerable areas; Newsis reported that the recommendations were issued on April 30 to both the defense minister and the minister of health and welfare, and that the ministry replied in July. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The ministry said military housing facilities are operated with the particular demands of soldiers' duties, such as frequent transfers, in mind, and that providing civilian employees with the same level of housing support as soldiers was difficult to accept on grounds of equity with ordinary public servants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The commission said the question should not be judged only by equity with other public servants, and that the specific nature of civilian employees' work and the conditions in vulnerable areas should also be considered. According to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo, it pointed to a lack of housing infrastructure and of practical alternative housing in remote areas, and to duties such as night shifts and emergency response that the military organisation requires of civilian employees. Hankook Ilbo added that private rental options are also limited. Yonhap reported that the commission's Military Human Rights Protection Committee (군인권보호위원회) urged the ministry to prepare appropriate housing support and made the ministry's non-acceptance public. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The ministry did accept other parts of the recommendations. It said it would revise a rule under which civilian employees living in officers' quarters must move out within two months when an active-duty applicant seeks the housing; Newsis and Hankook Ilbo reported that the revision is due by October. The ministry also said it would take steps so civilian employees can have medicines dispensed in-hospital at military medical facilities. Newsis reported that the defense and health ministries will pursue an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act for this purpose. Hankook Ilbo reported that the ministry also said it would improve living conditions through a comprehensive development plan for civilian employees. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Reports differ on when the commission's fieldwork took place. Yonhap said the commission visited and surveyed civilian employees and officers in vulnerable areas in October and November last year, while Hankook Ilbo said it carried out military unit visits in September last year to inspect civilian employees' treatment and conditions. [ 2 , 3 ]
Por qué importa
The commission publicly disclosed the ministry's refusal and urged it to draw up appropriate housing support, keeping the issue of civilian employees' living conditions in remote posts open. The ministry's partial acceptance means some changes to quarters rules and medicine dispensing are set to proceed while the housing question remains unresolved.
Datos clave
- The National Human Rights Commission said on October 8 that the Ministry of National Defense did not accept its recommendation to include military civilian employees in remote and border areas in housing support. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The commission made its recommendations in April; Newsis gives the date as April 30 and says they went to both the defense minister and the health and welfare minister. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry said military housing is run with soldiers' frequent transfers in mind, and that giving civilian employees the same support would raise equity concerns with ordinary public servants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The commission said the issue should not be judged only on equity with other public servants, but should also weigh the nature of civilian employees' work and conditions in vulnerable areas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry said it would revise the rule requiring civilian employees in officers' quarters to move out within two months when an active-duty applicant seeks the housing. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry also said it would take steps so that civilian employees can have medicines dispensed in-hospital at military medical facilities. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- The defense ministry did not accept the recommendation to include civilian employees in remote and border areas in military housing support. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry cited soldiers' frequent transfers and equity with ordinary public servants as its reasons. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry agreed to revise the rule requiring civilian employees in officers' quarters to leave within two months when an active-duty applicant exists. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry plans to complete the quarters rule revision by October. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The commission cited a lack of housing infrastructure and alternative housing in remote areas, and civilian employees' duties such as night duty and emergency response. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry also agreed to steps allowing civilian employees in-hospital dispensing of medicines. [ 1 , 2 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- When the commission carried out its field inspections. Yonhap says visits and surveys took place in October and November last year, while Hankook Ilbo says the military unit visits were in September last year.
- When the ministry sent its reply. Only Newsis says the ministry replied in July.
- How the medicine dispensing change will be made. Only Newsis says the defense and health ministries will pursue an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
- What the ministry's planned comprehensive development plan for civilian employees will include. Only Hankook Ilbo reports the ministry's statement that it will improve living conditions through such a plan, without details.