Korean military to bump pay of front-line officers, NCOs

A soldier aims a gun during training at the Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

Korea plans to increase the annual salaries of entry-level military officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) at front-line units by up to 30 percent by 2027 compared to this year to enhance working conditions and encourage officers to stay.

The Defense Ministry announced its five-year welfare plan for service members on Sunday, which includes salary increases for second lieutenants in front-line units by 30 percent from 38.56 million won ($29,000) to 49.9 million won in 2027.

Staff sergeants are set to receive a 29 percent salary bump, from 38.17 million won to 49.04 million won over the same period.

Second lieutenants and second sergeants in ordinary units behind the front line will see their annual salaries rise by 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

The ministry also plans to raise the monthly salary of a sergeant to as high as 2 million won in 2025 from this year's 1.3 million won.

The government plans to inject a total of 39 trillion won to improve the welfare of military officers.

By 2026, all army cadres will be guaranteed a single room. Efforts will be made to address issues like water leaks in outdated facilities. The ministry promised to construct such residences in regions with essential infrastructure, including hospitals and supermarkets.

Living conditions for other soldiers will also be enhanced by placing only two to four people in shared rooms, allowing soldiers to rest better and enabling the authorities to respond more effectively to disease outbreaks.

Eight to 12 soldiers currently share rooms.

Medical services in areas lacking basic facilities will be improved, with the number of remote medical service centers increasing from 89 to 105 by 2027.

The Defense Ministry aims to raise the number of helicopters designated for transporting patients in areas like Pocheon and Yongin in Gyeonggi from 7 to 11 by 2027.

Psychological counseling services and related infrastructure will be strengthened as well.

Welfare policies for soldiers' families will also be expanded, with 21 more kindergartens for the children of military personnel to be built by 2027. Over 50 of 157 current kindergartens for families of soldiers will be renovated.

Subsidies for online education will be extended to benefit more children of soldiers living in remote areas, doubling the quota from 1,500 this year to 3,200 by 2027.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]