Laundromats to Open in Military Bases Too

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]Military units will sequentially install 'laundromats' equipped with comfortable and state-of-the-art facilities comparable to those in the civilian sector.

The Army announced on the 18th that it has begun a pilot operation of the 'Barracks Laundry Room,' which combines the latest laundry facilities with rest areas, for the first time across the entire army.

The Army plans to first establish and operate five locations by the 31st, and by the end of this year, it will additionally install laundry rooms in a total of 24 units, including nine frontline divisions.

The Barracks Laundry Room is a complex rest facility set up within the barracks to improve the welfare conditions of soldiers. For every 10 soldiers, one washing machine and dryer are available; thus, eight high-performance commercial washing machines and dryers are installed at the company level, and four each at the platoon level. There is no separate charge for use.

To allow soldiers to rest while doing laundry, caf?-style tables and chairs, as well as air conditioners and heaters, are provided. Depending on the discretion of the unit commander, some units have equipped the laundry rooms with various books, board games, and TVs. The Army explained that existing laundry rooms within barracks were inconvenient and cramped, often located alongside restrooms or washrooms.

The Army stated that it plans to expand the Barracks Laundry Room project to all Army units through continuous budget securing efforts in the future.