'2 Million Won Monthly Salary for Soldiers' Exchanged for 'Military Dormitory Repairs'... Ministry of National Defense's 'Welfare Fund Shuffling'

Ministry of National Defense Requests Each Military Branch to Identify Unexecuted Project Funds
1 Trillion Won Possible from Uniforms, Health and Welfare, etc.
Yoon's Pledge Leads to Targeting Unrelated Welfare Programs

On the 7th, the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, began full-scale preparations for relocation. Following the approval of the supplementary budget for the presidential office relocation at the temporary Cabinet meeting held the previous day, the Ministry plans to sign an official contract with a professional moving company as early as today. They will start moving offices currently housed in the main building of the headquarters to nearby buildings within and outside the base, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff building, by department and division. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense is preparing a plan to cut the welfare budget for soldiers in order to fulfill President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol’s pledge to guarantee a monthly salary of 2 million won for enlisted personnel. This move, which reduces the generally enjoyed welfare benefits under the pretext of expanding soldier welfare, has drawn criticism as a form of "welfare juggling."

According to government officials on the 25th, the Ministry of National Defense requested the unused annual budget (the amount paid each year according to the project implementation stage) from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps earlier this month. The unused annual budget reported by each branch to the Ministry of National Defense amounts to 1.0842 trillion won. The Ministry expects that by applying for an additional supplementary budget of about 1 trillion won next year under the name of boosting soldier morale, it can secure a total of 2.0264 trillion won in funds. To pay all soldiers 2 million won per month starting from July this year, an additional 2.55 trillion won is needed, and this is the intention behind securing these funds.

However, the unused annual budget reported by each branch includes direct and indirect costs linked to soldier welfare, making it difficult to avoid criticism that this is welfare juggling to fulfill the new government’s pledge. This includes 18 billion won for soldier clothing expenses, 34.6 billion won for health and welfare, 333.8 billion won for facility management, 3.9 billion won for administrative support, and 2.9 billion won for informatization projects. Essentially, the facility management and welfare budgets are being cut.

Alongside this, the Ministry of National Defense is also considering a method of accumulating 2 million won monthly and paying a lump sum upon discharge, rather than raising the monthly salary to 2 million won starting this July. This is a desperate measure to buy time for securing funds as it is difficult to prepare the budget immediately. However, it remains uncertain whether the canceled annual budget this year will be paid again next year.

There are also complaints within the military regarding the budget securing policy of the President-elect’s side and the Ministry of National Defense. A military official said, "We need to repair soldiers’ barracks in preparation for the rainy season immediately, but if the budget is reclaimed, the project will have to be postponed until next year," adding, "It is questionable whether it is appropriate to give up other welfare benefits solely to keep the soldier salary pledge."

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