A South Korean soldier has come forward describing what it was like to be interrogated by his own military during its ‘gay witch hunt’.

Military service is compulsory for all Korean men, but it is also illegal to be gay or have consensual sex with someone of the same gender.

In April the Military Human Rights Centre of Korea (MHRCK) revealed South Korea’s army chief of staff, General Jang Jun-kyu, ordered a hunt to identify gay military personnel. The military allegedly drew up a ‘gay list’ with approximately 40-50 names of serving personnel.

Last month a military court in South Korea has sentenced an Army captain to six months in prison for having consensual sex with another male soldier at a private residence. His sentence was suspended for a year.

‘Sergeant A’ spoke to CNN and said the military had contacted him saying it knew about himself and his ex-partner. The military said it already knew he had committed his ‘crimes’.

He was asked sexually explicit and very personal questions which left him ‘uncomfortable and humiliated’.

‘They knew that I would not want my identity revealed so they made me cooperate in the investigation,’ Sergeant A said.

‘The atmosphere was very oppressive and humiliating. I was scared.’

Since the military started its investigation into gay soldiers earlier this year, it is estimated about 32 soldiers have been charged. But the military would not confirm the number to CNN.

The military’s investigation was described as ‘gay witch hunt’ by Amnesty International.

‘President Moon Jae-in needs to send an unequivocal message that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated, including in the military,’ said East Asia Research Director at Amnesty International, Roseann Rife.

‘It is long overdue for South Korea to repeal this archaic and discriminatory provision in the military criminal code, and get up-to-date when it comes to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex people.’