80% of Youth Say "Don't Want to Serve in Military" Shocks Nation Offering 60 Million Won Bonus

Czechia offers up to 60 million won for new military recruits
Significant expansion of other incentives such as housing and commuting
Continued support for Ukraine... Domestic military personnel declining

The Czech government has decided to provide new recruits enlisting in the military with bonuses exceeding 60 million won as a measure in response to the Ukraine war. According to Yonhap News on the 2nd (local time), citing local media CTK News Agency, "The Czech Parliament passed an amendment to the Professional Soldier Act to increase the lump-sum bonus paid to new recruits who complete three months of military training from the current 250,000 koruna (about 15.9 million won) to up to 1 million koruna (about 63.4 million won)."

A Czech soldier is examining a portable anti-aircraft missile system at the international defense and security exhibition 'Future Force 2024' held in Prague last October. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

This represents more than a fourfold increase compared to the existing bonus. Additionally, under the law, those who graduate from university and sign a long-term service contract of over seven years can receive an additional maximum of 450,000 koruna (about 28.5 million won). Other incentives such as housing and commuting allowances will also be expanded.

According to Yonhap News, as of early last year, the Czech military had 27,826 active-duty personnel and 4,266 reservists. The military has set a goal to increase its forces to 30,000 active-duty and 10,000 reservists by 2030. The Czech Republic is actively supporting Ukraine, which is at war with Russia. Funds raised from Western countries have been used to jointly purchase and send artillery shells to Ukraine. However, like other European countries, it is reported that young people of military service age are reluctant to enlist, making it difficult to secure domestic military personnel.

According to a survey by local media 'Czech Radio,' when asked, "If your country or NATO allies are attacked and the collective defense clause is activated, would you enlist?" only 6% of respondents answered "I will definitely enlist." Another 14% said "I will consider it," while the remaining 80% said "I will not enlist," signaling a security alarm.

The Czech Republic belonged to the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance led by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999 and abolished conscription in 2004. Amid a wave of military downsizing across Europe, the military force, which was close to 100,000 immediately after the dissolution of the Czechoslovak Federation in 1993, has been reduced to about one-third.

"Money for apartments and universities"... Russia also offers a '65 million won' bonus

Russia, suffering personnel losses due to the prolonged war, is also reportedly encouraging voluntary enlistment with large sums of money. According to Russian media 'Mediazona' in February, the Samara region, known as the area offering the most generous benefits for voluntary enlistment in Russia, reportedly offers about 4 million rubles (approximately 65 million won). Compared to the current average monthly wage of workers in the region, 65,000 rubles (about 1.06 million won), this is a substantial amount.

Regarding this, Kirill Rogov, a sociologist at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria, explained, "Voluntary recruits in Moscow visit recruitment offices with their entire families for 2 million rubles (about 32 million won). This money will be used to buy an apartment for a newlywed son, and another son will go to university."