Civic groups challenge military open-house gun activities for children at human rights commission

The military has launched a servicewide probe into weapons-handling activities at open-house events after civic groups filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea alleging the events violate children's rights.

According to Politicizing Moms, the group joined Gangjeong Daily Resistance Action, Gajangjari-eseo and other organizations in filing a complaint on May 7 against the minister of national defense and the commanders of the units involved. The groups argued that allowing children to handle firearms at military open-house events violates their human rights.

The groups cited a 2017 commission ruling that stated it was "advisable" to exclude firearms activities that run counter to "the fundamental spirit and provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child," arguing the events constitute a full violation of the convention. However, the commission dismissed that earlier complaint nine years ago on the grounds that no specific victims or cases of harm had been identified.

The groups also said military experience activities for children amount to war education disguised as play.

The groups also called on the commission to ensure no military experience activities for children were held at a May 9 ceremony marking the first anniversary of the Naval Mobile Fleet Command and the 10th anniversary of the completion of Jeju Naval Base. They simultaneously ran a boycott campaign against the event.

In an open letter, the groups said the base open-house event "exposes civilians — particularly children — to lethal weapons of war and internalizes a culture of war through activities such as wearing military uniforms and handling military equipment," adding that such events "teach children the lie that peace can be achieved through violence, justify aggression between nations and instill the logic of force."

The letter went on to say the events "package war and violence as subjects of play and experience, concealing from children the true nature of war and the horrific reality of the battlefield," and that "as descendants of the April 3 Jeju Uprising, it is only natural for us to cry out against war and massacre."

In response, the military has begun a servicewide investigation into whether weapons-handling and similar activities are being conducted at open-house events across all branches.

Some, however, have pushed back against the complaint, calling it excessive.

Captain Kim Sang-ho, a former military officer turned YouTuber, said "some organization filed a complaint with the absurd claim that military open-house events constitute child abuse, and made the outrageous demand that the entire military hand over records of recent open-house events," and added that "the human rights commission passed this down to the military, and the military is now investigating it."

He said the probe covers "the operational status of lethal weapons-handling experiences, operational plans for firearms, ammunition and other weapons, invitation letters and attached informational materials, and event outcome reports." He also asked rhetorically, "Does the military exist for peace, or for war and aggression?"

"Why on earth is such a foolish complaint being accepted, and why is the military investigating and briefing on it?" he said. "I am truly furious thinking about how the soldiers preparing these materials must feel. Please spread the word."

‘적대적 두 국가론’ 北, 지도서 독도 삭제…“영유권 주장 포기했을 가능성”

[헤럴드경제=장윤우 기자] 북한이 자국 영토를 소개하는 지도와 전자책에서 독도를 삭제한 것으로 확인됐다. 지난 1일 일본 교도통신에 따르면 북한 출판사가 지난해 10월

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