"Better to Be in Prison"...The Cry of a Junior Air Force Officer

Air Force Junior Officer Reveals Poor Dorm Conditions
Ministry of National Defense "Making Efforts to Resolve Officer Dormitory Shortage"

A junior officer in the Air Force revealed the poor conditions of the single officers' dormitory, sparking controversy over the living conditions of military officers.

On the 23rd, a photo was posted on the social networking service (SNS) Facebook community 'Delivering Army Training Center News' with the caption "Single officers' dormitory at a certain Air Force wing."

The photo shows a mattress barely large enough for two people to lie down placed right in front of a shoe rack, and the bathroom space is so narrow that it is difficult to even place luggage.

A photo of the bachelor officers' quarters at an Air Force base, revealed by a writer who identified themselves as a junior officer serving in the Air Force.
[Photo source= Screenshot from 'Yukgun Hullyeonso Daesin Jeonhaedeurimnida']

The author, who introduced himself as a "junior officer serving in the Air Force," lamented, "Is this really the kind of room given for people to live in, where two people can barely stretch their legs and lie down? There is not even a minimum guarantee of personal space," adding, "It is truly miserable that the treatment of junior officers is like this."

He stated, "Although the housing allowance provided to soldiers was increased from 80,000 won to 160,000 won after 27 years, officers with less than three years of service, who desperately need the benefit, do not receive the housing allowance."

He pointed out that although the Ministry of National Defense announced this year that the housing allowance for officers would be doubled from 80,000 won to 160,000 won per month, the recipients are limited to "officers with long-term service of three years or more, from sergeant to lieutenant colonel."

The author said he could no longer endure the poor officer dormitory conditions and rented a monthly rental room, but since he does not receive the housing allowance, he lives by receiving pocket money from home.

He appealed, "The reality of life for junior officers is like a prison."

Netizens who saw the post responded with comments such as "A jjimjilbang would have better welfare," "Is this how people who serve the country are treated?" and "It's worse than prison."

Ministry of National Defense: "Expanding budget and supporting monthly rent, etc. are underway"

In response to the controversy over the treatment of junior officers, the Ministry of National Defense stated, "We are promoting measures such as expanding the budget (for new construction and remodeling), consignment development, and revising laws (to expand support for monthly rent for officer dormitory recipients) to resolve the shortage of officer dormitories."

Additionally, to improve old or cramped officer dormitories, they are pursuing various measures such as revising the standards for military facilities to expand the area (from 18 to 24㎡), strengthening maintenance, and remodeling officer dormitories that have reached 30 years of age. Regarding the housing allowance, they also stated that they will closely consult with related ministries to ensure that housing allowances can be provided to junior officers with less than three years of service.