Corporal Discharged from Active Duty Promoted to Sergeant Specially

Over 1,700 Soldiers Unable to Get Promoted Due to Vacancy System in Rank Advancement

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Although they completed their military service as active-duty soldiers, those who were discharged as corporals have been promoted to sergeants. A total of 1,767 people have been promoted over the past 14 months.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 4th, active-duty soldiers, including veterans who participated in the Vietnam War, could only be promoted to sergeant if there was a vacancy for the sergeant rank. This is called the ‘Sergeant Promotion Vacancy System.’

The Ministry of National Defense has been pushing for legislation since 2018 to provide a special promotion to sergeant for corporals discharged after completing their full term of service. The special promotion system for corporals discharged after full service was intended to honor those who completed their service but were not promoted to sergeant. The special law was enacted in October 2021 under the name ‘Special Act for the Promotion of Corporals Discharged after Serving More than 30 Months.’ Promotions are confirmed after military review.

Since the implementation of the special promotion system for corporals discharged after full service, a total of 1,767 people have been belatedly promoted to sergeant through this system over the past 14 months as of the 2nd of this month. This includes those on the national merit list (22,000 people) and applications for burial in the National Cemetery. Among them, 1,745 are from the Army, with 16 from the Navy and 6 from the Air Force.

Before the system was implemented, the Military Manpower Administration estimated the number of eligible individuals at up to 710,000 (692,000 Army, 15,000 Navy, 3,000 Air Force). The military estimates that about 400,000 corporals who meet all the special promotion requirements still remain.

Meanwhile, since May of this year, the Army has been sending a certificate of confirmation and a congratulatory letter signed by the Chief of Staff of the Army to those confirmed for special promotion.