Recognition as a National Merit if Visual Acuity is 0.1

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] If vision is impaired to '0.1 or less in one eye' while performing duties related to national security or protecting the people, the individual is recognized as a national merit recipient. This significantly relaxes the previous standard of '0.06 or less in one eye.'

On the 11th, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that the partial amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of Distinguished Service to the State and the partial amendments to the Enforcement Rules of the same Act were enforced on the 9th and 11th, respectively.

According to the new Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the National Merit Act, a new disability grade criterion has been established to recognize individuals who have lost one ovary or one fallopian tube as national merit recipients by granting them a disability grade (Grade 7). The vision impairment standard for disability grades has been relaxed from '0.06 or less in one eye' to '0.1 or less in one eye.'

Additionally, individuals who have lost more than one joint of the second finger will also be assessed as disability grade (Grade 7).

Furthermore, the previous criterion of assigning Grade 7 for the loss of four or more toes with two or more joints on one foot has been relaxed and subdivided to 'loss of three or more toes with two or more joints on one foot.'

The newly established and improved disability grade criteria will apply from the 9th for vision impairment and toe loss, and from the 11th for finger loss and loss of fallopian tube or ovary, for those undergoing grade assessments. Those who receive disability grade 7 will be eligible for benefits such as disability compensation (360,500 to 521,000 KRW per month), educational support, and employment assistance.

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