Army sex offenders to face forcible discharge

The Army is seeking tougher punishments for sex offenders in the military including immediate dismissal and demotion following a spate of recent sexual assault cases that have damaged public trust and troop morale.

It is also considering employing a “one-strike” system in which senior officials, caught sexually harassing subordinate soldiers, will be forcibly expelled from the military for good, a senior Army official said.

“We will toughen our disciplinary rules for sex crimes to mete out heavy punishments to those who sexually harass someone in the Army or commit worse sexual crimes,” the official told the media, declining to be named.

Heavy punishments include suspension for one to three months, demotion, dismissal from the current position and expulsion from the military.

The Army has taken such a hardline stance as sex crimes have continue to occur despite its adoption of a no-tolerance policy. It is expected to announce a comprehensive package of plans next month to stamp out sex crimes.

The Army also plans to form a special agency at its headquarters dedicated to handling sex crimes.

The agency to be headed by an Army deputy chief will consist of senior officials in charge of military investigation, law and personnel management. It will also be used to check whether each unit sternly deals with sex crimes on-site.

To enhance education against sex crimes, the Army seeks to conduct a three-hour educational session for enlisted soldiers every three weeks. Soldiers have so far taken only one session each year.

“We seek to improve education against sex crimes. Rather than offering just a rote-memorization class, we will devise a program in which draftees can engage in active discussions (to prevent sex crimes),” an army official said on condition of anonymity.”

Last week, military police arrested an incumbent brigade commander on charges of sexually assaulting a female noncommissioned officer.

The colonel, 47, in charge of a unit in Gangwon Province, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the NCO, 21, at his military residence on several occasions in the past two months. The colonel argues that the sexual relationship was based on “mutual consent,” while the NCO says she was sexually assaulted.

Hours after the colonel’s arrest, Army Chief of Staff Kim Yo-hwan held an impromptu meeting with top commanders to discuss the case and ways to stamp out sexual crimes.

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