Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

New uniforms will be distributed to all Korean War veterans

he monthly salary for sergeants will increase to 1 million won in 2023. The capacity of a barracks room, currently eight to ten persons, will be changed to two to four persons. Veteran’s benefits will rise, and new uniforms will be distributed to Korean War veterans on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the armistice. The scope of persons subject to the enlistment examination will be expanded. New changes in national defense, veterans affairs, and conscription administration in 2023 are listed below.

National Defense

Raise in the salary of corporals to 800,000 won, privates first class to 680,000 won

The salaries of soldiers will be raised to provide reasonable compensation for and respectful treatment of the fulfillment of military service obligations. A sergeant’s salary will rise from 676,100 won to 1,000,000 won, and the salary for a corporal from 612,000 won to 800,000 won. The salary for a private first class will increase from 552,100 won to 680,000 won, and for a private from 510,100 won to 600,000 won. Soldiers’ salary will be adjusted to ensure that higher ranking soldiers will receive a greater increase given their skill level and task difficulty. The salary hike is designed to meet public demand for reasonable compensation for persons who fulfill military service obligations for the country and strengthen state’s responsibility.

Increase of financial support for the Installment Deposit to Help Soldiers Prepare for Tomorrow

To help solders find employment or start a business after retirement from military service, the government’s financial support for the Installment Deposit to Help Soldiers Prepare for Tomorrow will be raised from up to 140,000 won (33% of principal and interest) to 300,000 won (71% of principal and interest). The sum of principal and interest refers to the total of the accumulated principal amount, the banks’ basic interest of 5%, and interest support of 1%. The Ministry of National Defense decided to increase support to help soldiers cultivate savings habits in tandem with salary hikes and accumulate the funds needed after retirement from military service. The raised financial support will be applied to deposits made from January 2023. For example, soldiers who put up monthly installment deposits of 400,000 won for 18 months (service period) will receive a total of 12,890,000 won, consisting of 7,542,000 won (principal of 7.2 million won plus bank interest and interest support), and matching support of 5,355,000 won (71% of the sum of principal and interest).

Expanding per capita barracks room space by 42.4%

Barracks will be improved into 2–4 person rooms including sanitation facilities in order to meet the tastes of future generation soldiers. The residents of single barracks room will be reduced from the current nine persons to 2–4 persons and bathrooms and shower rooms will be installed within each barracks room. The living space per soldier will rise from 7.57㎡ in the current 9-person room to 10.78㎡ in a 4-person room, an expansion of 42.4%. All barracks improvement projects to be started from 2023 will apply 2–4 person rooms in principle, and beginning with 52 barrack buildings in 2023, the project will be implemented in phases by year.

Raising of mobilization training compensation to 82,000 won

The compensation paid to reserve forces members who participate in mobilization training will be raised by 32% from 62,000 won in 2022 to 82,000 won. Appropriate compensation is necessary, as they participate in mandatory reserve forces training after their discharge from military service by law. The Ministry of National Defense plans to continue consultations with the National Assembly and related government ministries to ensure that reasonable compensation for mobilization training is paid.

Expansion of the long-term part-time reserve forces system

The pilot program of the long-term part-time reserve forces system will be expanded with more participating units and positions available while the duration of mobilization training will be diversified. The long-term part-time reserve forces system has been implemented as a pilot program for selective reservist officers and soldiers of the Army for a period of 40–180 days a year for positions that required advanced-level and long-term mobilization. To expand and further establish this system, from 2023, the number of units to apply this system will be increased from one to three and the number of positions from 50 to 83. In addition, the number of mobilization days will be diversified from the current 180 days to different durations (by multiples of 20 days).

Expanding the clinical pathology test in the draft physical examination

Mobilization training compensation jumps by 32%

Allowances for children of Korean War fallen soldiers and policemen

Equal amount paid to all children

Increased recruitment of Army cooks

Safety tests for commercial equipment for military use

To prevent safety accidents involving commercial equipment (vehicles, construction machinery) reserved by the military, safety tests will be conducted by private specialized organizations. This measure aims to enhance the safety management of the equipment and improve the service condition of military personnel in accordance with the Act on the Management of Military Supplies. In 2022, safety tests were implemented in a pilot project, with budgets made available by unit, and from 2023, they will be applied to all commercial equipment owned by the military.

Veterans Affairs

Increase in veterans’ benefits

Compensation for persons entitled to veterans benefits, allowances for patients suffering from the aftereffects of defoliants, allowances for children of Korean War veterans, and nursing care allowances will be increased by 5.5% over 2022. In particular, compensation for grade 7 disabled veterans and newly born descendents of Korean War veterans will be raised by 9% and 20.5% respectively. In addition, allowances for war veterans, recipients of the order of military merit, and persons of merit for the April 19 Revolution will be increased by 40,000 won respectively over 2022.

Change in the method of paying allowances for children of Korean War fallen soldiers and policemen

Instead of being paid to the oldest child in the case of no agreement among children, now allowances will be evenly divided and paid to all children. In addition, restrictions on the transfer of the right to receive allowances to other children was abolished so that all children can receive allowances until all of them die, guaranteeing equal rights.

Use of transportation welfare cards nationwide

Disabled persons of national merit must carry different identification cards according to the region and means of transportation in order to use public transportation. As a measure to address this inconvenience, they can now use city buses and subways nationwide with a single transportation welfare card. The system has changed from a “free ride” based on identification cards to an “honorable treatment ride” through ex-post settlement with credit card companies in order to respect and reward their dedication to the nation.

Distribution of new uniforms to Korean War veterans on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice

New uniforms consisting of jackets, pants and neckties will be provided to all Korean War veterans who survive as of January 1, 2023, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.

Support for the modification of vehicles for disabled persons of national merit

To cover the costs of mounting assistive prosthetic devices in vehicles used by disabled persons of national merit (disability grade 1–5), up to 15 million won per person will be supported.

Integration of ID cards for persons entitled to veterans benefits

The fifteen ID cards for the different types of persons entitled to veterans benefits will be integrated into one card from June 2023, and the integrated ID cards will be issued in sequence by the end of 2024 to 660,000 persons, including persons of national merit and their bereaved family members, in order. For convenience’ sake, mobile national veterans’ registration cards will be issued as well, and these cards will be expected to function as official ID cards similar to resident registration cards and driver’s licenses.

Conscription administration

Support for the entire amount of health insurance premiums for social work personnel

Health insurance premiums during the service period of social work personnel will be fully supported. The health insurance premiums of social work personnel were previously supported up to 100,000 won per month, but from 2023, the entire amount of the premiums will be provided in order to create equality with active-duty servicemen whose insurance premiums are fully exempted and foster stable service conditions.

Improvement of standards for the payment of transportation costs to persons fulfilling mandatory military service

In the case of persons fulfilling mandatory military service, standards for the payment of related transportation expenses will be improved. Instead of being paid based on intercity bus fares, transportation expenses will be paid based on the use of vehicles (the sum of fuel costs and tolls) from 2023.

Broadening the scope of persons subject to enlistment examinations

The scope of persons subject to enlistment examinations by the Military Manpower Administration prior to being enlisted will be expanded, replacing physical examinations after enlistment. The scope will be widened from enlisted persons in divisions under the Second Operations Command and divisions in the eastern district of the Ground Operations Command to enlisted persons in 14 divisions under the Ground Operations Command from 2023. To increase the interest of persons who fulfill mandatory military service by eliminating the inconvenience of returning home after enlistment and supporting early advancement into society, enlistment examinations will be gradually expanded until 2025.

Increase in the number of items in the pathological examination of the draft physical examination

The number of items in the pathological examination of the draft physical examination will be increased. To the current list of 28 items, which includes hepatitis B, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, an albumin test and HDL cholesterol test related to hyperlipidemia will be added. The Military Manpower Administration expects this measure to increase the accuracy of the physical examination and measure the overall physical conditions of examinees, thereby contributing to the health of youths.

Persons who chose to serve with physical grade 4 are included in persons eligible for full-time reserve service

Those with physical grade 4 who wish to perform active service will be included to persons eligible for full-time reserve service. From the first half of 2023, applications for full-time reserve service will be received, and the first successful applicants will be recruited in December 2023 to start service in January 2024.

Extension of application eligibility for Army military cooks

The application eligibility for Army military cooks will be significantly expanded. Instead of limited applications from persons specialized in cooking and persons with qualifications and licenses, anyone who is interested in cooking will be able to apply as a military cook and receive specialized education after enlistment.

Adjustment of the active service enlistment date for kindergarten teachers and postponement of mobilization training during leaves of absence from university (graduate school)

Kindergarten teachers will be allowed to adjust active-duty service enlistment dates to after a semester (school year). Those who attend summer or winter sessions during leaves of absence from university (graduate school) will be allowed to postpone mobilization training.

The government provides financial support of 300,000 won per month for Installment Deposit to Help Soldiers Prepare for Tomorrow

Satisfying the tastes of the future generation of soldiers

The capacity of barracks rooms will be increased to one room for two to four persons

Installing bathrooms and shower rooms within barracks rooms

By Hyun-woo, Seo <lgiant61@dema.mi.kr>

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