Page 242 - 2018 Defense White Paper

[ Chart 6-5 ] Current Status of Civilian Cooks in the ROK Armed Forces
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total
1,373 1,473 1,547 1,586 1,721 1,767 1,841 1,903
(No. of cooks)
Increase
187 100 74 39 135 46 74 62
(No. of cooks)
Operating 180 or 150 or 140 or 130 or 120 or 110 or 100 or 90 or
standard
(No. of users) more more more more more more more more

In 2014, the MND launched the Mothers’ Monitoring Group, in which the mothers of

servicemembers participate in joint hygiene inspections at the plants that manufacture foods
supplied to the military and review the quality of the meals provided to their children. The
program contributed to raising the standard of military meals.

Mothers’ Monitoring Group visits the 10th Fighter Wing cafeteria

As military meals are consumed by a large group of people at the same time, they require

safety and hygiene control at each stage, from contracts to actual servings. Food contracts are
preferentially awarded to companies with a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
certification. 9) Military suppliers are subject to biannual hygiene inspections and nonscheduled

inspections in summer, which are conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and
Drug Safety. In case of an issue with the food used in military meals, they are collected and

9) A food safety management certification that verifies and assesses hazards in each manufacturing process to
prevent the contamination of foods by hazardous materials

240 Chapter 6 Instilling a High-Morale Military Culture Trusted by the People