인권･지휘권 관계의 현상 진단과 조화 방향

Abstract

During the past four years wherein a policy of guaranteeing the rights of soldiers in the military has been implemented, several commanders have expressed concern for the deterioration of discipline of soldiers, as well as the attenuation of overall command authority. However, the results conveyed by surveys and interviews show that such concerns are overblown. The reason for the exaggeration is that the officers are experiencing a type of ʻcultural shockʼ as the principle of human rights have been speedily introduced into the military. At the same time, this also signifies that the value of human rights have not yet completely been absorbed into the organizational value system of South Koreaʼs military institution. In the modern society, human rights have become a norm that must be embraced. Subsequently, the citizenry demands an environment favorable to the adequate protection of such rights within the military. In order to substantially increase the rights for soldiers, the value of human rights must be included within the organizational culture of the military. Thus, through appropriate education, we can facilitate the change in soldiersʼ perceptions, while being encouraged to practice and uphold such rights in everyday life. This process will inevitably raise the rights for soldiers, and eventually enable the South Korean military to truly become a first-rate force.