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Discrimination in the hair rule between military officers and soldiers will be eliminated as early as November.
According to the military authorities today (25th), the Ministry of National Defense is planning to issue guidelines containing guidelines related to hair regulations to the entire army soon.
The key to the Ministry of Defense guidelines is not to differentiate between officers and soldiers in terms of haircuts.
The purpose is to allow anyone to choose a hair type within the same range, regardless of whether it is an officer or a soldier.
In the meantime, there have been some differences between officers and soldiers in terms of hair length restrictions for each army, navy, and air force.
Officers were allowed to choose between '(executive) standard type' and 'sports type' (athletic type), while only relatively short sports types were allowed for soldiers, which made it more restrictive.
In the case of the Marine Corps, the 'landing type' was applied for officers within 5 cm of the forehead and 2 cm above the ears, and the 'amphibious assault type' with 3 cm of the front and 5 cm above the ears.
However, in the future, soldiers will be able to cut their hair into so-called 'executive-type hair' if they wish.
From the soldier's point of view, the hair rule is somewhat relaxed.
This change is a response to the continued criticism that it is unreasonable to apply the hair rule differently depending on the class.
Previously, in September last year, the Military Human Rights Center filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea regarding haircuts, and the Human Rights Commission delivered the complaint to the Ministry of National Defense stating that 'it is an act of discrimination in violation of the right to equality based on social status, so it is necessary to improve the regulations of each military'. You have been asked to submit relevant documents.
At the Civil-Private-Military Joint Committee, which ended its activities in the middle of this month, “the regulation of different haircuts between officers and soldiers raises the perception that it is discrimination based on their status.” It was recommended to review and implement by military, taking into account the different mission characteristics of each unit.
It has been confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense has now collected the improvement plans prepared by each military and is in the final stages of review.
When the Ministry of Defense guidelines are issued to each military, the relevant regulations will be amended and put into effect immediately.
This is a 'news pick'.
(Photo = Yonhap News)