Generals Gather Again After 13 Days... Discussing Measures for Poor School Meals and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] As comprehensive measures to improve the treatment of soldiers, including their meals, were not properly followed at frontline units, the Ministry of National Defense convened a meeting of key commanders across the entire military.

On the 20th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that Minister of National Defense Seo Wook held a key commanders' meeting via video conference with the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, as well as Army corps commanders, Navy fleet commanders, and Air Force commanders and above.

The meeting was held behind closed doors and reportedly discussed the progress of improving meals and facility environments for soldiers in quarantine to prevent COVID-19, measures to handle soldiers' grievances, and ways to improve communication systems. The Ministry explained, "This meeting was planned since last week as a mid-term check on the concrete implementation status following the announcement of comprehensive measures to guarantee living conditions for quarantined soldiers on the 7th, and also to inspect quarantine measures in light of recent cluster infections within the military."

It added, "Going forward, we plan to regularize meetings to thoroughly and concretely check the implementation status of the comprehensive measures, maintaining continuous attention and efforts to improve the treatment of quarantined soldiers."

The Ministry of National Defense appears to have convened the meeting after signs emerged that the comprehensive measures for improving soldiers' treatment, announced at the key commanders' meeting on the 7th, were not being properly implemented. At that meeting, comprehensive measures were introduced, including a 19.5% increase in meal allowances next year, as well as plans such as the so-called 'PX Helper' system, where soldiers in quarantine can request desired items via KakaoTalk or other means to be purchased on their behalf, and the establishment of a military-run 'reporting app.'

Meanwhile, reports of 'poor meals' from soldiers continue. On the Facebook page 'Delivering on behalf of the Army Training Center,' a soldier from a unit under the 11th Division exposed that the lunch menu was insufficient the day before.

The 11th Division stated, "We are verifying the exact facts," and explained, "We will thoroughly investigate whether the insufficient quantity provided during the meal process was due to problems in the meal system or occurred during distribution, and will make improvements accordingly." The Army Headquarters has launched an emergency inspection of the unit in question.

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