'710,000 Veterans with the Rank of Sangbyeong' Special Promotion to Byeongjang

Farewell Ceremony for the Replacement Troops of the Maengho and Cheongryong Units Departing for Vietnam in 1966 (Photo by eVideo History Museum)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A total of 710,000 veterans who completed their mandatory military service normally but were discharged as Sangbyeong (Corporal) will be promoted to Byeongjang (Sergeant).

On the 14th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that with the enactment of the "Special Act for the Special Promotion of Sangdeungbyeong (Senior Corporal) Veterans Who Served More Than 30 Months," veterans or their bereaved families can apply for special promotion to Byeongjang upon discharge.

In the past, mandatory military service members who served more than 30 months could only be promoted if there was a vacancy in the rank, so if no vacancy existed, they were discharged as Sangdeungbyeong without promotion to Byeongjang. It is estimated that about 710,000 people, including approximately 692,000 from the Army and 15,000 from the Navy, were discharged as Sangbyeong.

The Ministry of National Defense had tried to resolve complaints from veterans discharged as Sangbyeong instead of Byeongjang, but there was no legal provision regarding the promotion of retired soldiers, so the issue could not be resolved.

Currently, these individuals are aged between 50 and 80, and veterans or their bereaved families can apply for special promotion to the respective Chiefs of Staff of the military branches where the veteran served (including the Marine Corps Commandant). The special promotion applies to Sangdeungbyeong veterans who enlisted as active-duty soldiers by March 31, 2001, and completed more than 30 months of mandatory service.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "We hope that by specially promoting those who served more than 30 months and were discharged as Sangdeungbyeong to Byeongjang, we can further honor those who dedicated themselves to the country."

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