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| Young men obliged to undertake mandatory military service wait to undergo medical checkups at the Military Manpower Administration's local office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Feb. 1. Newsis |
By Ko Dong-hwan
The Korean military is introducing drug testing as local narcotic crimes among teenagers and those in their 20s have risen recently, the Ministry of National Defense announced, Tuesday.
The testing targets those currently in service and those who are being processed for service and looking to become commissioned ranking officials, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
The military's latest move is part of it updated and more stringent policies aimed at cracking down on the possession and use of narcotics by soldiers and summarily punishing offenders.
Following the change, the physical exam performed by the authority on all enlisting soldiers will include a new category that tests for the presence of drugs in their systems.
The military has so far been conducting drug tests only on those who have voluntarily confessed to taking illegal drugs or who were asked by health inspectors to take the test under particular conditions. The latest policy expands the test subjects to the entire service.
Under the new rule, those starting military service are required to take the test. Those who test positive will be required to present a second urine sample for testing at a later date. If that test also returns positive, they are then referred to the police for investigation.
Following an investigation, if sentenced to less than 18 months in prison, their military service is replaced with a substitute role. If punishment is longer than the 18 month-sentence, their military service will be halted immediately. If drug use is found to be a deliberate ruse to avoid military service, the authority will keep offenders in service.
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| Methamphetamine hidden in candy wrappers delivered through an international shipment is shown during a meeting of narcotic inspectors from the Korea Customs Service at Seoul Regional Customs in Gangnam District, May 18. Yonhap |
For those already serving their military service, a urine test will be added to a health inspection performed by the authority at least once before a soldier's discharge.
The ministry said Tuesday that carrying out the new policy, however, should be preceded by revisions to the country's Military Service Act so that the testing can be performed without violating the soldiers' basic legal rights. An official from the ministry said that because military service is mandatory for all male citizens, testing cannot be done without their consent.
Vetting of those looking to become commissioned ranking officials is expected to be enforced later this year, according to the official.
The military is also starting to inspect soldiers' belongings more thoroughly. With recent drug crime cases nationwide involving the disguise of illicit drugs as food products, the authority is aware that potential drugs may be hidden in a soldier's possession.
Starting this month, the military will run a specialized drug inspecting force inside its policing department. The authority is expected to meet representatives of the country's Supreme Prosecutors' Office on Thursday to discuss a new coalition supervisory mechanism against soldiers engaged in narcotic crimes.
The military's ramped-up vetting process came after the Republic of Korea Army raided a soldiers' dormitory last April in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, and found cannabis stashed in the lockers. The drug had been hidden in food and delivered there by a logistics service provider, the authority confirmed.
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