Active-duty soldiers will soon undergo annual random drug tests.
According to the government on the 3rd, the Ministry of National Defense announced a legislative notice for a partial amendment to the Basic Law on the Status and Service of Soldiers. The amendment is expected to be enacted in the second half of this year following a legislative notice until the 11th.
The amendment stipulates that commanders of units and institutions led by officers ranked lieutenant colonel or higher shall conduct drug tests on their personnel. The total number of tests annually shall not exceed 30% of the authorized strength of each unit, and they will be conducted randomly at military healthcare facilities.
A military official stated, “We have amended regulations to establish a legal basis for conducting drug tests on soldiers during their service, specifying the timing and methods of testing. Through awareness of drug misuse and preventive measures, we expect to promote a safe and healthy military life.”
The substances for testing reportedly include methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, opioids, and ketamine. Military authorities plan to notify the police of individuals who test positive in the drug tests.
In the United States, a country with a conscription system, all soldiers are subject to random urine collection and testing throughout their service, following a pledge to abstain from drug use and initial testing upon enlistment. A comparable system is now being implemented in the South Korean military.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the number of drug-related incidents in the military has steadily increased, rising from 9 cases in 2020 to 20 cases in 2021 and 30 cases in 2022. In response, the Ministry of National Defense initiated a comprehensive investigation into drug use among officers in the second half of 2023 and also advocated for legal amendments to implement soldier testing.
Starting this month, all active-duty soldiers, military training recruits, and recruitment applicants will undergo drug testing during their military entrance examinations. This measure aims to prevent the infiltration of drug addicts into the military.
A military official stated, “We aim to discourage soldiers from turning to drugs by addressing the loophole of not conducting drug tests after enlistment,” adding, “We will initially limit the number of test subjects to within 30% legislatively, and consider expanding it after observing the operational process of the system.”