Page 271 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Section

2 Improving the Welfare and
Working Environment for

Servicemembers

Military welfare is a critical factor in determining the level of performance of combat
power as well as improving the quality of life and morale of servicemembers. Accordingly,
the MND is creating a sound environment for servicemembers to focus solely on their
duties through drastic improvements in military welfare, such as raising the salaries and
allowances of servicemembers, enhancing the military barracks, increasing support
for self-development, improving clothing and meals, and advancing residential support
programs for career servicemembers.

1. Drastic Improvement of Service Conditions

Reasonable Remuneration for To provide reasonable remuneration for
Military Service those fulfilling their military duty and en-
hance the nation’s responsibility to this
matter, the MND promotes annual increase in the salary of servicemembers, and by Chapter 7
2022, it will amount to 50% of the 2017 minimum wage. As of 2020, the salary has
3)
been raised to 40% of the 2017 minimum wage, and will be raised up to KRW

676,000 by 2022 based on the salary of sergeants.
In association with the raise, the MND signed MOUs with 14 commercial banks
in August 2018 and launched the Soldiers Preparing for Tomorrow Installment 3)
Servicemembers’
Savings to provide lump sum money for servicemembers to propel themselves salary increase in 2020
4)
(compared to 2017)
into the civilian society following discharge. Since then, the number of subscribers • Sergeant: KRW 216,000
→ KRW 540,900
and accumulated money have continued to increase, surpassing 325,000 cumulative • Corporal: KRW 195,000
→ KRW 488,200
subscribers as of November 2020 with each individual saving an average of KRW • Private first class: KRW
176,400 → KRW 441,700
288,000 a month. • Private: KRW 163,000 →
Moreover, the remuneration and allowances for military personnel–which serve as KRW 408,100
important factors in the acquisition and preservation of outstanding personnel–are 4)
The Soldiers Preparing
being improved to a reasonable, objective level in consideration of the characteristics for Tomorrow Installment
Savings offers high-
of military service and the operations and working environment. In 2019, salaried interest rates of 5% and
tax exemptions, with
volunteer servicemembers were paid the same amount of remuneration as regular individuals allowed to save
up to KRW 400,000 per
sergeants, and encouragement allowances for short-term NCOs were increased from month.

Chapter 7. Embedding an Inclusive Culture in the Military: With the People, Trusted by the People 269