By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter


The Army has started running platoons of soldiers with the same rank in a pilot program to eliminate abuses of the hierarchical structure of the country’s military, Army officials said Thursday.

As part of programs to improve camp culture, the Army began running ``German-style’’ barracks last week on a three-month trial basis, said Kwon I-sup, spokesman for the Army.

``There have been many problems in the military, including human rights violations and physical or verbal abuses committed by senior soldiers. The trial run is to help eradicate practices of the old military culture,’’ Kwon said.

Two units, including the 8th Infantry Division in Pochon of Kyonggi Province, were selected for the pilot program, which started on Sept. 9, the spokesman said.

The Army has been also endeavoring to provide a freer barracks life, modeling after the one in the Air Force under which soldiers can behave freely off duty and are guaranteed to have their own personal time.

The Army plans to run a pilot program for six battalions starting next month, Kwon said.

In a related development, the 26th Mechanized Infantry Division in Yangju, Kyonggi Province, declared a ``Green Zone’’ campaign last March to reform military culture to reflect changing social trends.

Under the Green Zone system, soldiers can behave freely in the barracks, dining facilities and snack bars, regardless of rank, as long as they do not undermine camp culture.

Junior soldiers can suggest to superiors their opinions on ways to improve barracks life or ask for advice on personal problems.

At the commander level, a host of seminars and education programs have been held to help promote understanding of young soldiers’ way of thinking.

The government has stepped up efforts to improve military conditions in the wake of a series of incidents, including a shooting rampage at a frontline unit on June 19 which left eight soldiers dead.

South Korea maintains 680,000 troops. The South and the North are still technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr