Military Personnel's Civilian Support Recognized as Volunteer Service Hours

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] From this year, soldiers who have engaged in civilian support activities outside of working hours will have their volunteer work recognized as volunteer service hours.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 28th, the military plans to recognize the time soldiers spend supporting civilians at disaster sites outside of working hours as volunteer service hours starting this year. Until now, only voluntary volunteer activities individually participated in by soldiers during days off or personal leave were recognized as volunteer hours.

Increasing civilian support hours also offers many advantages after discharge. Some universities recognize soldiers' volunteer hours as academic credits. Some companies, including Woori Bank, also give preference to volunteer hours during recruitment.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "Since last year, we have been consulting with officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local government volunteer centers to have volunteer hours recognized for soldiers deployed as groups to disaster sites," adding, "Detailed procedures related to volunteer activities of soldiers deployed to disaster sites will be revised and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, local government volunteer centers, and other related institutions."

A Ministry of National Defense official said, "Recognizing soldiers' civilian support time as volunteer service hours is expected to boost soldiers' morale and promote volunteer activities."