[Changes Next Year] Soldier Salaries Increased by 12.5%... Sergeant Monthly Pay 608,500 Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Starting January next year, soldiers' salaries will increase by 12.5% compared to this year. A sergeant will receive 608,500 KRW per month. This raises the pay to 45% of the 2017 minimum wage. By 2022, it is planned to increase to 50% of the 2017 minimum wage, which will raise the sergeant's monthly pay to 676,100 KRW.

From February next year, all individuals with physical grades 1 to 3, regardless of educational background, will be subject to active duty enlistment. This is because the government has relaxed the active duty evaluation criteria, which had been temporarily tightened to resolve the active duty enlistment backlog issue that occurred in 2015. Accordingly, tattoos, which previously made active service difficult due to aversion, will also be classified as eligible for active duty.

Additionally, those who dropped out of school and work in technical fields will be able to fulfill their military service obligations by enlisting as technical soldiers. Previously, individuals with physical grades 1 to 3 and education below high school dropout level could only enter the military as supplementary service (with the option to enlist as active duty if desired).

The government will also provide 'combat shirts,' functional shirts that help absorb sweat during summer, starting next year, and will raise the cash allowance for personal daily necessities such as toothpaste and toothbrushes to 138,600 KRW from next year.

Measures to alleviate the economic burden on soldiers residing or working in Jeju Island during leave will also be implemented from next year. The number of round-trip uses of civilian aircraft between Jeju and the mainland will be expanded from 2 times per year to up to 8 times.

In addition, to protect the health of reservists, thermal imaging cameras will be installed at training sites, and the distribution of protective masks will be expanded. Accordingly, each reservist will receive one protective mask, and disinfectants and hand sanitizers will also be supplied.

Source: Ministry of Economy and Finance