"Sergeant Soon to Earn More Than Me..." The Corporal's Frustration

'Haegun 1 Hobong' Corporal Suspected Person's Appeal
"Soon Sergeant's Salary Will Surpass... Life Is Hard"
Defense Ministry Rebuttal: "Excluding Other Allowances... Misunderstanding"

"In a few years, sergeants will probably earn more than me... It's not easy to serve while looking toward the future in this reality."

On the 21st, a navy staff sergeant posted a message expressing frustration about the "low pay reality" on the Facebook page mainly used by soldiers, 'Delivering Army Training Center News' (Yukdaejeon), drawing attention. The author, who introduced himself as "a first-grade staff sergeant serving in the navy," said, "After seeing a post by an officer working at a coastal outpost in the Yukdaejeon group, I am revealing my salary," and shared pay slips from December last year and February this year.

[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Comparing the pay slips, the December last year salary was 1,865,400 KRW before tax (1,613,020 KRW net). This included ▲base pay of 1,705,400 KRW ▲long-term service allowance of 15,000 KRW ▲position allowance of 145,000 KRW, among others. Income tax and health insurance premiums totaling 252,380 KRW were deducted.

In February this year, when a wage increase was implemented, the pre-tax amount was 1,950,800 KRW (1,695,970 KRW net). This included ▲base pay of 1,770,800 KRW ▲long-term service allowance of 15,000 KRW ▲position allowance of 165,000 KRW, with taxes of 254,830 KRW deducted.

He wrote, "This year, combining salary and position allowance, my pay increased by about 82,000 KRW compared to last year, so I receive about 1.7 million KRW," but added, "It's hard to live on base pay alone."

He continued, "Since I work in a remote area, I receive an off-base meal allowance after deductions, but if I don't do overtime, it's really hard to make ends meet," and lamented, "In a few years, sergeants will probably earn more than me, so I don't know when junior officers will receive a realistic salary."

Previously, the government announced plans to raise the sergeant's salary to 2.05 million KRW by 2025. Looking at this year's soldier salaries, sergeants have received 1 million KRW since January, a 47.9% increase compared to last year (676,100 KRW). Corporals increased from 612,000 KRW to 800,000 KRW, lance corporals from 552,100 KRW to 680,000 KRW, and privates from 510,000 KRW to 600,000 KRW.

[Photo by Facebook page 'Yukgun Training Center Delivery Service']

Among netizens who saw the post, voices arose calling for improvements in service conditions, including salary increases for junior officers such as staff sergeants, not just soldiers. Comments included, "After deducting dormitory fees and meal costs, even second lieutenants only get about 1.4 to 1.5 million KRW," and "In the next life, I want to be born in a great power where soldiers are treated well."

Meanwhile, criticism was raised that comparing active-duty soldiers and officers is inappropriate. One netizen wrote, "Those who chose the military as a career should earn less than those who were drafted." Another commented, "Soldiers don't work for their salary but for their pension," adding, "If you have a sense of mission in your job until you receive your pension, there's no need to complain about the salary in front of you."

Ministry of National Defense: "Average monthly earnings of staff sergeants, before and after tax, are higher than those of soldiers"

The Ministry of National Defense stated that the average monthly salary of staff sergeants is not absolutely lower than that of sergeants.

The Ministry explained, "The submitted pay slips only included base pay and some allowances paid on the 10th of each month," adding, "Overtime pay and other allowances paid on the 25th were excluded."

They further stated, "The average monthly earnings of staff sergeants, including base pay and allowances, are higher than the minimum wage and soldier salaries both before and after tax, according to relevant laws."

The Ministry of National Defense also announced, "Salary increases for junior officers, including staff sergeants, will be a key focus as a national agenda item for 'improving the treatment of professional soldiers and the working conditions of junior officers.'"

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