Page 299 - 2020 Defence White Paper

pension corresponding to the actual marriage period. In addition, in consideration of
national financial burdens and equity with other occupational pensions, the revision
includes a provision that discontinues payment of the retirement pension or the
pension for wounds when the beneficiary is elected as a public official or employed at
an organization entirely funded or financed by the nation or a local government.
In September 2019, the Enforcement Decree of the Military Pension Act was revised
to reinforce the personal information management of military pension beneficiaries
residing in a foreign country and prevent pensions from being used as escape funds
for criminal suspects. The MND has also made it mandatory for a military pension
beneficiary residing in a foreign country for more than a year to submit new personal
information notification every year commensurate with those who have foreign
citizenship or permanent residency, and to withhold payment of half of the retirement
pension for anyone who is undergoing investigation or trial due to a criminal offense
committed while serving in the military and is on the wanted list or received a cri-
minal designation decision because his or her whereabouts are unknown.
In July 2019, in order to protect the right to receive military pension and guarantee
the beneficiary’s basic right to livelihood, a bank account dedicated to preventing
seizure was introduced to prevent seizure of pensions within the minimum cost of
living (KRW 1.85 million) from being garnished. Chapter 7

3. Reinforcing Privileges and Social Compensation for Military Service

Recovering Korean War Remains 27) The MND recovers the remains of the
fallen soldiers during the Korean War
to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, and to also address the
long-held wishes of the families as well as honoring them and cultivating their pride.
Launched in 2000 as part of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the recovery
project has been expanded by establishing the MND Agency for Killed in Action
Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) in 2007.
By 2019, a total of 12,181 sets of remains have been recovered, with DNA samples
received from 53,341 family members. Particularly in 2019, the MND began
recovery operations in DMZ in compliance with the CMA and 630 remains were
recovered, which includes 261 inside the DMZ. This is the largest recovery in 27)
A national project to search
the past 5 years, providing an opportunity to gain public support and trust, as no for the unfound remains
of about 130,000 soldiers
remains were ever recovered for over 70 years after the armistice and 8 remains were who died during the Korean
War and return them to
identified and returned to their families. their bereaved families.

Chapter 7. Embedding an Inclusive Culture in the Military: With the People, Trusted by the People 297