Limited Leave Allowed for Military Personnel

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 implemented. On the 12th, at Seoul Station, a soldier is waiting in the lounge to use the TMO service. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Leave will be allowed for soldiers who have not been able to take leave even once due to COVID-19.

On the 1st, the Ministry of National Defense announced, "In accordance with the government's extension of social distancing measures, the current Level 2.5 distancing within the military will be extended for two weeks until the 14th."

However, to alleviate the difficulties faced by soldiers who have been unable to take leave for a long time, leave will be allowed on a limited basis. The eligible soldiers are those who enlisted before October last year but have not been able to take leave for up to eight months. However, commanders may grant leave such as pre-discharge leave or petition leave if deemed necessary.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of National Defense will conduct PCR tests upon return from leave and at the end of the two-week preventive quarantine and observation period, and to ensure preventive quarantine within the same group, new recruits who went on leave will be allowed to return on the same day.

Under the Level 2.5 measures applied since November 26 last year, all soldiers' leave and outings, except for pre-discharge leave or petition leave, are temporarily suspended, and officers' private gatherings and dinners must be postponed or canceled.

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