A parliamentary panel has recommended that the government seek a program under which universities give extra points to those who have fulfilled their compulsory military service in their selection of scholarship students.

The National Assembly’s special panel on enhancing human rights in the military made the recommendation last month as it wrapped up its activities to improve the rigid, hierarchical military culture that is cited as a primary cause of constant abuse in the barracks.

The panel has also proposed setting up a military ombudsman under the National Human Rights Commission of Korea to constantly monitor human rights situations in the nation’s 630,000-strong military. 

The panel, which was set up last November, adopted a package of its policy proposals on June 24. The Assembly subsequently adopted a resolution calling on the government to promptly deal with the package.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)