319 social workers arrested for crimes in the past 5 years... “Need to strengthen education”

(Gimhae = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jun-young = The number of social workers whose service was suspended due to being arrested on criminal charges over the past five years amounts to around 300, and among them, those involved in sexual crimes account for 25% of the total.

According to data submitted by the Military Manpower Administration on the 8th by Representative Min Hong-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gimhae-gap, Gyeongsangnam-do), a member of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, a total of 319 social workers were suspended from service due to criminal detention from 2022 to last May.

By year, there are 56 people in 2022, 93 in 2023, 61 in 2024, and 74 in 2025. This year, as of last May, 35 people were arrested and their service was suspended.

By crime type, 85 people committed fraud, 82 people committed sexual crimes, 31 people committed violence, 30 people committed traffic offenses, 19 people committed drugs, 9 people reported theft, 3 people obstructed official business, 2 people committed robbery, and 58 people committed other crimes.

The number of people per service instructor who manages social service workers decreased from 483 in 2022 to 355 in May, but it still exceeds the appropriate number of approximately 300 people suggested in a policy study by the Military Manpower Administration.

The Military Manpower Administration conducts psychological tests on those subject to military service screening tests, re-military service screening tests, and enlistment screening tests, but does not conduct separate tests for social service personnel currently serving.

Accordingly, along with the management burden on service instructors, the need for counseling and support system inspection during service is raised.

Representative Min pointed out, “More than 50 social service personnel are arrested for crimes every year, and over the past five years, the number of personnel arrested for sex crimes reaches 82.” He added, “The Military Manpower Administration must strengthen crime prevention education and on-site inspections with service organizations to prevent crimes while serving.”