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The Ministry of National Defense said Sunday that it is considering a move to allow soldiers to use their mobile phones after daily duty starting next year as it seeks to improve military culture.
"The ministry started allowing mobile phones for soldiers at four units last April as a test-run," said a ministry official who asked not to be named. "The pilot program will be extended starting this year at some units in the Army and the Marine Corps."
The military previously strictly forbade any mobile phone inside military units.
Under the pilot program, soldiers are to keep their individual phones at a certain place and be allowed to freely use them between 6:00 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The ministry, in addition, said it will kick off a pilot program at some units that will allow soldiers to go outside of their base after daily duty hours starting in August.
"Going outside of the units will be allowed ... when family members are visiting the soldiers or for other purposes such as going to the hospital," said an official, adding that no more than 35 percent of the military personnel will be allowed to take advantage of this program to ensure the complete readiness of the armed forces to cope with emergency situations.
The move comes amid the military's effort to reform its culture in the wake of a series of abuse cases within the country's ranks.
All able-bodied South Korean men are obliged to serve in the military for about two years. There are around 620,000 South Korean troops confronting North Korea's 1.1 million-strong armed forces.(Yonhap)
