"Not Enough Low Pay, Moldy Dormitory"... Improvement of Military Officer Service Conditions

Executive Quarters to Have 'One Person, One Room'... Old Facilities to Be Remodeled
Lee Jong-seop "Deeply Agree on the Need to Improve Service Conditions"

The military will begin improving housing conditions along with increasing allowances for junior officers. This measure was hastily introduced following public dissatisfaction over the increase in soldier salaries and the recent exposure of the poor living conditions, filled with mold, in the housing of junior officers.

On the 14th, the Ministry of National Defense announced plans to remodel aging officer quarters and improve them to single-occupancy rooms to enhance the service conditions for junior officers. In addition to facility improvements, they will raise the promotion pay for sergeants, the standard pay grades for performance bonuses for captains (junior) and sergeants, and duty pay to the level of civil servants, while also promoting increases in short-term service incentives and allowances.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop is having a meal with junior officers at the Ministry of National Defense-Junior Officers Meeting held at the Army Hall in Gwanak-gu, Seoul on the 14th.
[Photo by Ministry of National Defense]

The Ministry of National Defense plans to improve service conditions so that junior officers can fully fulfill their role in leading the development of a combat-ready strong military and will consult with relevant departments to secure the necessary funding.

On the same day, policy makers from the Ministry of National Defense and each branch of the military held a "Junior Officer Roundtable" at the Army Hall to directly hear voices from the field regarding improvements to junior officers' service conditions and to identify the need for additional policies.

The roundtable was attended by key figures from each branch, including Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, the Director of Personnel and Welfare, other Ministry of National Defense officials, personnel chiefs from each military branch, the Marine Corps Chief of Staff, managers responsible for improving junior officers' service conditions, and about 60 junior officers performing duties in the field.

Minister Lee Jong-seop shared a meal with the junior officers and emphasized, "The Ministry of National Defense deeply empathizes with the necessity of improving service conditions for junior officers."

He continued, "By listening to various opinions through roundtables like today’s, we will focus on improving service conditions and quality of life so that junior officers, who dedicate themselves to the nation and its people, can feel pride and fulfillment in their choice," adding, "We will also organize the necessary conditions and systems so that our military can concentrate on its core missions such as combat readiness and training."

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