Military Personnel Allowed to Use Mobile Phones Only After Duty Hours [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Trial Applied with Extended Usage Time Over 3 Years
But Only Violations of Usage Rules Like Illegal Gambling Increased

From now on, military personnel will only be allowed to use mobile phones after working hours. Although a pilot program was conducted in some units to allow usage during working hours, violations of usage rules increased.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 7th, military personnel have been using mobile phones since 2020. To assess whether extending usage hours would be feasible, pilot programs were conducted three times starting in 2021. In the first year, soldiers of the Army's 15th Division were allowed to use mobile phones under three different schedules: minimal type (after morning roll call at 8:30 AM), intermediate type (after morning roll call until 9:00 PM), and autonomous type (24 hours). In 2022, the program expanded to 11 units (18,000 soldiers), and last year to 45 units (60,000 soldiers).

If usage hours were violated, mobile phones were confiscated, and restrictions on leave and overnight stays were imposed. Despite these disciplinary measures, violations increased. Cases rose from 9,385 in 2021 to 10,182 last year. Violations involving failure to return phones or not adhering to usage times increased from 5,238 in 2021 to 8,075 last year. Illegal gambling (292 cases last year) and digital sexual violence (117 cases) also remained steady.

Military officers pointed out additional issues such as decreased concentration during duty and training, and breakdowns in communication. Ultimately, the military authorities decided to limit mobile phone usage to weekdays (from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM) and weekends (from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM). However, trainees and patients hospitalized in military hospitals are allowed to use mobile phones to alleviate feelings of isolation. Trainees can use phones for one hour on weekends and public holidays. Hospitalized patients can use phones from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM on both weekdays and holidays.