Selection of Part-Time Reservists with a Daily Wage of 100,000 Won

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Among mobilized reservists, key-position reservists perform duties for up to 180 days annually and receive compensation of 100,000 to 150,000 KRW per day. Most of them are reserve non-commissioned officers and officers.

On the 7th, the Ministry of National Defense announced the promulgation of partial amendments to the "Reservist Act" and the "Military Service Act," which include provisions for the non-active reservist system.

The non-active reservist system is a program that adds a certain period of reservist mobilization and training on top of the current 2 nights and 3 days of mobilization training, selecting volunteers only for key positions such as company and platoon commanders, and combat equipment operation and maintenance personnel.

Since 2014, the military has operated non-active reservists under the name "Reservist Officer Non-active Service System." However, the mobilization training period for non-active reservists was limited to within 30 days annually. After a pilot operation with 79 people in 2014, the scale has been expanded every year, and this year about 3,000 people were selected for an additional 12 days of mobilization training.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, in 2018, for mobilization division regiments, the operation of the non-active reservist system reduced combat readiness time by 29% and improved unit management capabilities such as equipment management by 7 to 17%.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to pilot about 50 "long-term non-active reservists," who are mobilized (trained) for about 180 days annually, next year and then expand the scale. The daily pay is 150,000 KRW, and the 50 positions include majors and captains in staff roles, maintenance and supply non-commissioned officers, and tank maintenance soldiers. Along with the long-term non-active reservists, a short-term non-active reservist system, which involves about 15 days of mobilization training annually, will also be operated concurrently. Short-term non-active reservists receive 100,000 KRW on weekdays and 150,000 KRW on holidays, and about 3,700 will be selected next year. The Ministry of National Defense plans to expand the short-term non-active reservists to about 4,500 and the long-term non-active reservists to about 600 by 2024.