South Korea: Military Academy to Ease Ban on Drinking, Smoking, Premarital Sex

Source from:  Korea Times (kr) 02/05/2015

The Korea Military Academy is moving to ease a ban on cadets drinking, smoking and engaging in premarital sex following concerns that such regulations violate human rights and personal freedom.

"The academy's education committee is planning to hold a meeting this month and come up with countermeasures," said an Army officer on condition of anonymity, Wednesday. "The committee is still collecting various opinions."

The academy has maintained the "three-nos" policy, that bans cadets from marrying, drinking alcohol and smoking since it was established in 1952.

Under the marriage stipulation, the academy has also prevented cadets from cohabitating with a partner before marriage or having premarital sex.

The officer said the academy is seeking to maintain the ban on marriage, but will loosen it to some extent by allowing premarital sex.

"Regarding the drinking and smoking ban, the academy wants to separate the private and public spheres of the cadets," the official said.

He cited the need to allow cadets to drink and smoke except for when they wear uniforms or attend official events.

The 6-decade-old set of rules totally prohibits cadets from smoking regardless of where they are located ― inside or outside of the academy. They are allowed to drink outside of the academy only when they are together with parents or field officers.

The move to ease the old rules came after the Supreme Court ruled in May last year that it was unfair to expel a cadet for having sex with a girlfriend whom he promised to marry.

Supporters of the old rules worry about the possible weakening of school discipline. Enditem