Entry-Level Coast Guard Salary Higher Than 6th Grade 'Chungju Man': "Over 50 Million Won!"

No Cap on Overtime Pay

The annual salary of a first-year officer in the Korea Coast Guard has been revealed. Despite being a first-year salary, it exceeds 50 million won, sparking public interest.

In a video titled 'Dokdo Date feat. Korea Coast Guard' released on the Chungju City YouTube channel on the 26th of last month, 'Chungju Man' Kim Seontae, a public official, asked a Coast Guard officer about the first-year salary. The officer replied, "In the first year, it's 'up' from 50 million won." The officer, who stated he was born in 1995, added, "I was on a large patrol ship guarding Dokdo," and mentioned that he worked on the ship 8 to 9 days per month. Kim was surprised and said, "Hey, you earn more than me now," and encouraged viewers, "Everyone, join the Coast Guard."

Photo by Chungju City YouTube capture

Kim is known to be at grade 6, step 7. The pre-tax monthly payment excluding allowances is 2,909,300 won. Having joined in October 2016, Kim is now a 9th-year public official and previously stated that including various allowances, his actual annual take-home pay is about 40 million won.

The video was edited in a shorts format and spread across various online communities. Reactions ranged from surprise at the high salary to opinions that such compensation is justified given the work environment with no days off.

The Coast Guard is known to be the public service group with the highest salaries. Due to the nature of their duties, which involve frequent ship assignments, they often work overtime. Unlike general administrative public officials, Coast Guard personnel and other field officers who require constant duty have no cap on overtime pay.