Lee Jae-myung "Mandatory Recognition of Military Service Seniority"... Yoon Seok-yeol "Strengthening Compensation for Families of War Dead and Fallen"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is announcing agricultural pledges at the Pocheon Agricultural Technology Center in Gyeonggi Province on the 25th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Oh Ju-yeon] On the 25th, the presidential candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties announced their pledges related to veterans affairs. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed measures to improve the treatment of discharged soldiers and reservists, while Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, presented plans to strengthen practical compensation for the families of those who died in the line of duty or in combat.

On the 25th, candidate Lee announced through his daily life-oriented pledge called ‘So-hwak-haeng’ that he would "make it mandatory to recognize ‘military service seniority’ when calculating pay grades and wages." Currently, military service seniority is merely a recommendation, and about 60% of some public enterprises and private companies do not recognize it, but he intends to make its recognition mandatory.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, candidate Lee said he would shorten the reservist training period from 4 years to 3 years and raise the training compensation to 200,000 KRW per day. He explained, "Mobilized reservists suspend their livelihoods to enter training camps and undergo training," adding, "The training compensation is 63,000 KRW for 2 nights and 3 days, which is far below the minimum wage. We will double the amount from the Democratic Party’s pledge in the last general election and pay 200,000 KRW per day."

Candidate Lee stated, "I have said that special sacrifices require special compensation," and added, "We will create a government that fairly compensates the time sacrificed to protect the nation."

Candidate Yoon, through his ‘Seok-yeol’s Heart-throbbing Pledge,’ said, "We will supplement the formal posthumous promotion system for sacrifices and dedication to the country and prepare practical compensation measures," and added, "Pensions and various benefits for those posthumously promoted, such as fallen and deceased in the line of duty, will be correspondingly adjusted according to the promoted rank."

Currently, for those who died in combat or in the line of duty, or who have made clear contributions to the country during national emergencies such as battles, wars, or incidents, a posthumous promotion system is operated that promotes them by one rank despite the minimum service period regulations. However, pensions and other benefits have been paid based on the original rank, not the promoted rank. For example, Major Yoon Young-ha, who was the commander of the Chamsuri-class patrol boat during the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, was posthumously promoted to Major, but his pension is paid based on the Captain rank.

Candidate Yoon stated, "Honoring the merits and promoting the honor of the fallen and deceased in the line of duty is the nation’s rightful obligation," and added, "Only when there is ‘respect from the people’ for the spirit of sacrifice of the patriotic martyrs can national security that reassures the people be maintained."