National Assembly Budget Subcommittee Maintains Government Proposal for Military Personnel Meal Budget

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts' Budget Subcommittee approved the government's submitted budget for 'military basic meals' as originally proposed on the 19th.

Members of the Budget Subcommittee from both ruling and opposition parties agreed on the urgent need to improve the treatment of military personnel and advocated maintaining the government's proposal. The core of the military basic meals project is setting the daily meal cost per soldier at 11,000 won, a 25% increase from this year's 8,790 won. Previously, the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly reportedly reduced 100 billion won from the budget, stating that the project plan should be established first, before passing it to the Budget Subcommittee.

Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated during the subcommittee meeting, "I understand that the daily meal cost for elementary school students is about 10,800 won. Even if the soldiers' meal cost is raised, it only reaches the level of elementary school students." Another member of the same party, Heo Young, added, "The recent increase rate for agricultural and marine products has reached 12.1%. From that perspective, there is a need to further increase the military meal project budget."

Kim Seung-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said, "Recently, the issue of military personnel meals has become a social topic. I agree with improving their treatment."

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