National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2020 B. ‌Recommendation Following Ex Officio Investigation of Military Confinement Facilities From June to July, the Commission conducted ex officio investigations of confinement facilities based on Article 24 of the NHRCK Act, in order to improve the environment and safeguard the rights of inmates in the facilities. This time around, the inspections mainly focused on the functions of the confinement facilities run by each service and conditions facing pre-trial inmates following the abolition of the military guardhouse system on August 5. In the six units visited (four Army units, one Navy unit, and one Air Force unit), it was found that the confinement facilities were properly managed and inmates treated according to regulations. However, the Commission identified some areas that could be improved. There was also a need to give out some general recommendations for improvement. On October 13, it made recommendations to the Minister of National Defense regarding criteria on firearm use by the military police; improvement of reception rooms for lawyers' visits; installation of protective custody cells and restraints inside facility; correction of exposure of personal information of inmates; and better partition in restrooms and shower rooms. The recommendations were accepted by the Ministry of National Defense. C. ‌Recommendation to Promote Labor Rights of Subcontract Workers in Power Generation Sector On December 10, in memory of Kim Yong-gyun, an irregular worker who died in Taean Thermal Power Plant two years ago, the Commission made recommendations and expressed opinion to safeguard the life, safety, and labor rights of essential service subcontractors working in coal-fired electrical power plants. Electric utility is an essential public good in which the operation and maintenance of generating units are “essential services the suspension or discontinuance of which can substantially put public life, health, personal security, and people’s daily activities at risk.” Following the privatization of the generation services by the Korea Electric Power Corporation in 2001, privately-run power generation companies outsourced services previously performed by regular workers. Coal-fired electrical power generation services, which involve continuity 44