Yoon Hanhong Proposes Bill to Support Military Personnel Participating in High-Risk Operations

If Passed, Soldiers Who Participated in Seven High-Risk Operations, Including the Cheonan Sinking Incident and Operation Cross Star,
Will Also Be Eligible for Veterans’ Benefits

Yoon Hanhong, Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee (representing Masan Hoewon-gu, Changwon City), announced on the 26th that he has introduced the “Act on Support for Military Personnel Participating in High-Risk Operations.” This legislation aims to provide appropriate recognition to soldiers who participated in high-risk military operations, such as defending the West Sea or rescuing citizens, but were excluded from veterans’ benefits due to the absence of physical injuries, in commemoration of Patriots and Veterans Month.

Yoon Hanhong, Member of the National Assembly.

Under the current national veterans’ system, military personnel who sustained physical injuries while participating in battles or operations related to national defense and security are registered as veterans under the “Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of Distinguished Service to the State.” They receive various benefits, including compensation payments, educational and employment support, as well as medical and nursing care assistance.

However, those who did not sustain physical injuries are recognized as veterans under the “Act on Honorable Treatment of War Veterans” only if they participated in the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Individuals who participated in other battles or operations, even if these involved actual combat or similarly high-risk missions, are excluded from the scope of national veterans’ laws simply because they did not suffer visible injuries, leaving them in a blind spot with regard to veterans’ benefits.

In fact, eight service members who participated in the First Battle of Yeonpyeong applied for registration as persons of distinguished service to the state, citing psychological trauma such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). However, in February, they were deemed “ineligible” because they lacked medical documentation immediately after the trauma and had already returned to civilian life after discharge.

In response, Representative Yoon has prepared a bill to ensure that military personnel who participated in high-risk operations equivalent to the Korean War or the Vietnam War are also appropriately recognized by the state. The main provisions include: payment of participation allowances to those involved in high-risk operations; reduced medical expenses at veterans’ hospitals; support for nursing care and home welfare services; and discounts on admission fees to palaces, parks, and similar facilities.

The bill defines “high-risk operations” as battles or operations with a high level of danger, conducted to safeguard the nation and ensure public safety during emergencies or strategic contingencies. The seven designated battles and operations are: the First Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Battle of Daecheong, the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island, the Cheonan sinking incident, Operation Cross Star, and Operation Dawn of Aden Bay.

Representative Yoon emphasized, “This bill brings military personnel who participated in high-risk operations, previously left outside the current veterans’ system, into the institutional framework to properly honor their dedication to the nation. It aims to eliminate blind spots in veterans’ benefits and broaden the scope of veterans’ policies. This legislation reflects the contemporary demand that the state must respond responsibly to invisible sacrifices and contributions, and it will serve as an important turning point toward world-class veterans’ benefits.”