Cadets of the Korea Military Academy (KMA) march during an event at the academy in Seoul, South Korea, to mark the 107th anniversary of the establishment of a Korean military academy in Manchuria. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
July 6 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's national human rights watchdog has recommended that the Defense Ministry improve the organizational culture at the country's military academies after a survey found that six in 10 cadets experienced human rights violations or discrimination.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea said Monday it issued the recommendation to the defense minister June 26, calling for institutional measures to better protect the rights of military academy cadets.
According to a commission survey conducted last year on cadets' human rights conditions and awareness, cadets showed generally high awareness of human rights. However, 61.9% said they had experienced human rights violations or discriminatory acts.
Most of those cadets did not take any particular action in response, the commission said.
