[2024 Budget] Sergeant Monthly Pay to Increase to 1.25 Million Won Starting Next Year

Ministry of National Defense Allocates 59.5885 Trillion Won Budget for Next Year
Officer and NCO Short-Term Service Incentive Increased by 33%

Starting next year, the monthly salary of military soldiers will be significantly increased. The monthly salary for the rank of Byeongjang will exceed 1 million won for the first time, reaching 1.25 million won. The Tomorrow Preparation Support Fund, which can be received after discharge, will also be raised from a maximum of 300,000 won per month to 400,000 won, effectively amounting to a monthly income of 1.65 million won. To improve the service conditions of junior officers, who have been relatively neglected compared to soldiers, the short-term service incentive pay (allowance) will also be increased by 33%.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 27th, the government plans to prepare the 2024 defense budget at 59.5885 trillion won, a 4.5% increase compared to the 2023 original budget, and submit it to the National Assembly on September 1. The defense capability improvement fund for military power construction is set at 17.7986 trillion won, a 5.2% increase from the previous year, and the operational fund for military power is set at 41.7899 trillion won, a 4.2% increase from the previous year.

The operational fund was heavily invested in boosting soldier morale, including salary increases, creating barracks environments suitable for future generations of soldiers, and improving service conditions. In particular, to realize a country where military service is a source of pride, it was decided to provide compensation at a level appropriate for fulfilling military duties.

By combining soldier salaries with asset formation programs, the support fund for the rank of Byeongjang is planned to be gradually increased to 2.05 million won by 2025. The 2024 monthly salaries by rank will be increased to 1.25 million won for Byeongjang, 1 million won for Sangbyeong, 800,000 won for Ilbyeong, and 640,000 won for Ibyeong.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the budget reflects improvements in the service conditions of junior officers, who have been relatively neglected compared to soldiers. To prevent a decline in the recruitment rate of short-term service officers and non-commissioned officers and to acquire excellent personnel, the short-term service incentive pay (allowance) will be increased by 33%. Housing allowances, which were previously paid only to officers who served more than three years without direct or indirect housing support, will be expanded to include officers with less than three years of service.

Efforts are being made to create an environment in barracks life, including housing and medical care, that future generations of soldiers can be satisfied with. To this end, the current barracks, which are based on 8-10 person rooms, will be continuously improved to 2-4 person rooms (with 65 new buildings), and modular-type officer dormitories with shorter construction periods will be expanded to secure single-occupancy rooms for officers early. In terms of medical environment, military medical capabilities will be strengthened through the expansion of telemedicine systems, establishment of an integrated control system for the medical comprehensive situation center, cooperative operation of the Armed Forces Trauma Center with civilian hospitals, and acquisition of commercial ambulances (116 units, 9.7 billion won).

The defense capability improvement fund is primarily allocated to securing the Korean-style 3-axis system to deter and respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, building AI-based manned-unmanned complex systems, and strengthening asymmetric threat response capabilities.

Investments are focused on building North Korean nuclear and WMD response systems, including kill chain forces (F-X 2nd phase, etc., 3.301 trillion won), layered missile defense forces (L-SAM, etc., 1.5661 trillion won), massive retaliation forces (high-power missiles, Special Mission Brigade reinforcement-II, etc., 748.3 billion won), and surveillance, reconnaissance, and command and control base forces (Project 425, etc., 1.5411 trillion won).

In addition, continuous investments are being made to foster a strong military with AI science and technology, such as expanding intelligent smart units that apply 4th Industrial Revolution technologies to border security, logistics, and unit operations.

A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "We will prepare the 2024 defense budget without fail so that our military can respond to security uncertainties and asymmetric threats such as North Korean nuclear weapons and missiles, and create barracks environments suitable for future generations of soldiers. We will actively consult with the National Assembly and related agencies."