All Military Personnel Leave and Outings Restricted Again

As social distancing was adjusted to Level 1, military personnel's leave, which had been restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, was fully reinstated. On the 12th, at Seoul Station, a soldier is waiting in the lounge to use the TMO service. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The 'intra-military social distancing' level 2.5, which restricts all soldiers' leave and outings, will be extended again.

On the 7th, the Ministry of National Defense announced, "To prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections within the military, the currently implemented 'special measures' will be extended until the 28th."

The Ministry of National Defense had raised the intra-military social distancing to level 2.5 for all units until this day as a provisional deadline on the 26th of last month, temporarily suspending all soldiers' leave and outings, and instructed officers to postpone or cancel private gatherings and dinners. However, considering that confirmed cases continue to appear within the military and that the government's 'social distancing in the metropolitan area' will be raised to level 2.5 from 0:00 on the 8th, it is interpreted that the military has extended the application period of level 2.5. As of 10 a.m. on the same day, 9 new COVID-19 cases were added within the military, increasing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 426.

Accordingly, during this period, leave and outings for all soldiers will be controlled as before, and officers must postpone or cancel private gatherings and dinners. The Ministry of National Defense also decided to completely suspend the operation of military public multi-use facilities such as Seoul National Cemetery, War Memorial, and Korea Military Academy Museum during the level 2.5 application period. This is a stricter measure than the existing '30% capacity limit.' However, in the case of Seoul National Cemetery, already planned burial ceremonies will proceed as scheduled.

A Ministry of National Defense official added, "Regarding year-end personnel transfers, if officers violate guidelines related to private gatherings or breach personal quarantine rules, penalties will be strengthened."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.