South Korea’s human rights watchdog said Wednesday it has recommended a military academy to ease the ban on dating among freshmen cadets, saying the excessive regulation constitutes “discrimination.”

Currently, the Korea Air Force Academy bans romantic relationships among novice cadets to tighten regulations on the students who are required to endure rigorous and disciplined military lifestyle. Violators are subject to heavy punishment.

The rule was challenged by an Air Force cadet when he filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in June 2012, claiming that the rule applicable to only the freshmen constitutes a human rights infringement and discrimination.

The commission acknowledged his claim and recommended the Air Force academy chief to revise the code of conduct on cadets.

“The limited dating ban on Air Force freshmen cadet infringes upon their constitutional right and irrational discrimination,” the commission said.

The rights watchdog said any limitations to cadets’ basic rights should be dealt with caution.

“Rather than banning romantic relationships, it is more appropriate to leave the decision up to them so they can be independent individuals,” the commission said. “As the cadets chose the military career after fierce competition, they themselves can make the judgment on the effects of dating (their fellow students).”

The Air Force argued that the regulation is needed as the young cadets can get in trouble by having relationships when they are not yet ready to make a rational decisions.

According to the commission, four freshmen cadets have been punished for dating other cadets in the last three years.

The watchdog’s decision came at a time when the Army academy pledged to tighten regulations on dating, drinking and smoking after several students were punished last month for alcohol-related sexual assaults and other transgressions. (Yonhap News)