Recent incidents at the Army's 53rd Division, where four soldiers died in succession, have raised concerns about the need for improved military service conditions. Allegations have emerged from the Capital Corps regarding workplace harassment of a pregnant soldier, who was reportedly forced to arrive early in violation of regulations and subjected to verbal abuse. The soldier ultimately suffered a miscarriage after experiencing repeated bleeding. The unit has since acknowledged the situation and initiated an investigation.
According to a report from the Aju Economy investigative team on July 15, the Capital Corps is currently investigating Lieutenant Colonel A for alleged workplace harassment, including verbal abuse directed at subordinate officers.
Lieutenant Colonel A is accused of using her position to issue unfair orders and verbally abuse junior officers, particularly focusing on Major B and Captain C, who were nearing promotion. Reports indicate that A made comments such as, "Should I swing a pen at you?" implying that her authority could influence their promotions.
The Army's regulations state that the official start time is 8:30 a.m. However, the unit reportedly enforced an unofficial early start time of one hour earlier. Despite being in the early stages of her pregnancy, Captain C was told by A that she was late and was subjected to derogatory remarks, including, "Do you think you are needed in our department? I’m not sure if you are useful."
When Captain C submitted her pregnancy confirmation, the situation did not improve. A allegedly demanded that C buy drinks for the unit, saying, "Are you asking to be excused from duty?" and made inappropriate jokes about her pregnancy.
After C requested to use maternity protection time the following day, A reportedly clenched her fist towards C and said, "Can I show off my power to you?" and "Get down on the floor." Under pressure, C felt compelled to apologize and leave the room.
For about five weeks, Captain C was assigned to early morning shifts, carrying documents up and down six flights of stairs, a task that was not part of her original duties. This assignment, given to her by A, raised concerns that it was intended to exert pressure and harassment, as it imposed unnecessary physical strain on a pregnant officer.
In May, during a training period, A also allegedly forced Captain C, who was pregnant, to wear heavy equipment. Despite some unit members advising A that pregnant soldiers should not be required to wear such gear, A insisted, saying, "Your belly isn’t showing yet. I ordered you to wear it."
As a result of the ongoing early work hours and job demands, Captain C experienced repeated bleeding and ultimately suffered a miscarriage at ten weeks of pregnancy. The unit has since recognized the situation and initiated an investigation into Lieutenant Colonel A.
Current regulations provide specific maternity protection measures for pregnant female soldiers. Article 12 of the Enforcement Decree of the Basic Law on the Status and Service of Soldiers allows pregnant female soldiers to use maternity protection time for rest or medical appointments, up to two hours per day. Commanders are required to approve requests for maternity protection time for women who are within 12 weeks of pregnancy or beyond 32 weeks.
The Ministry of National Defense also outlines protective measures for pregnant soldiers and military personnel. Article 60 of the Defense Gender Equality Support Directive prohibits assigning overtime work to those using maternity protection time. Additionally, Article 60-2 states that pregnant soldiers or those who have not yet passed one year after childbirth cannot be assigned night shifts from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day, nor can they be required to work on weekends or holidays. Lieutenant Colonel A's insistence on early work hours clearly violates these regulations.
Since taking office, Defense Minister An Gyu-baek has adjusted the timing of breakfast meetings, previously held at 7:30 a.m., to alleviate the workload on staff who arrive early. Despite these efforts to improve military culture following the appointment of the first civilian minister in 64 years, reports indicate that violations of regulations and misconduct continue in frontline units.
Given the allegations of improper work directives violating laws and Ministry of Defense guidelines against pregnant soldiers, there are calls for a thorough investigation and measures to prevent recurrence at both the Ministry of Defense and Army levels.
Representative Seong Il-jong of the People Power Party stated, "If these allegations are true, it represents a direct violation of the current maternity protection time guaranteed to pregnant soldiers and a serious abuse of command authority as a means of workplace harassment. The Ministry of Defense and the Army must transparently disclose the results of the investigation to the public. This incident should prompt a comprehensive review of early work hours, verbal abuse, and unfair directives in frontline units."
A military official stated, "The unit has prioritized measures to protect the victim and has implemented necessary actions, such as separating the involved parties, as soon as the situation was recognized. We are conducting a thorough investigation into the allegations, verifying objective facts and any violations of relevant regulations, and will take strict action in accordance with the law and regulations based on the investigation results."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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