Promotion of 24-Hour Cell Phone Use for Enlisted Soldiers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The military is conducting a pilot project to expand the usage time of mobile phones for soldiers.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 4th, the first phase of the pilot operation for "mobile phone use during work hours" began on the 1st, targeting about 5,000 soldiers, including permanent soldiers and trainees, belonging to the Army's 15th Division. Currently, military personnel can use their mobile phones only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. On holidays, usage is allowed from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, due to criticisms that the uniform regulation of usage time does not fully serve its purpose, a pilot project to increase the allowed usage time has been initiated.

Soldiers in the pilot units are divided into three groups for mobile phone use. Group 1 is "allowed 24 hours." Group 2 is "allowed a total of 6 hours, including 3 hours from the morning roll call on weekdays until the start of work, plus 3 hours after work." Group 3 is "allowed from the morning roll call to the afternoon roll call on weekdays (controlled during training)." All three groups have increased allowed usage times compared to the current regulation.

Additionally, trainees, who are currently completely prohibited from using mobile phones, will be divided into two groups for pilot operation: "30 minutes on weekdays and 1 hour on Saturdays and Sundays during the first week of admission," and "30 minutes on weekdays and 1 hour on Saturdays and Sundays during weeks 1 to 5." A military official stated, "We are preparing measures that do not interfere with mission performance and security, and the implementation for trainees will be decided considering the achievement of training objectives."

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