Gwangju City to Gradually Increase Veterans and War Hero Honor Allowances Starting Next Year

Expansion to include non-participating disabled veterans
Consultation with veterans organizations... Additional 1.6 billion won budget
Fruits of 'cooperation' with 5 autonomous districts over a year
Mayor Kang: "We will support the lives of veterans' families"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung attended the "Meeting Day with Executives and Staff of 9 Veterans Organizations" event held at the Gwangju Veterans Hall in Seo-gu on October 24, sharing the policy direction of the 8th local government term. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City will gradually increase the honorariums for veterans and their families over the next two years to strengthen the respect and support for national merit recipients and their survivors. The city will also include non-combat disabled veterans aged 65 and over, who had not previously received benefits due to financial constraints, as new eligible recipients, thereby further enhancing the respect and welfare for those entitled to veterans' benefits.

According to Gwangju City on the 16th, after more than a year of discussions with five autonomous districts and veterans' families regarding the need to establish and increase allowances, a consensus was reached to raise the honorariums and expand the eligible recipients.

Under this policy, among approximately 20,000 national veterans in the Gwangju area, including non-combat disabled veterans, the number of recipients eligible for veterans' honorariums will increase by about 600, from around 7,200 to 7,800. The total annual allowance budget will also increase by 1.6 billion KRW, from 6.3 billion KRW to 7.9 billion KRW.

First, the honorarium for survivors of independence patriots and others will increase from the current 50,000 KRW per month to 80,000 KRW per month by 2026, a 30,000 KRW increase. However, to ease the financial burden, the increase will be phased in, with 65,000 KRW per month in 2025 and 80,000 KRW per month in 2026. Newly established non-combat disabled veterans will receive the same level of payment.

Allowances for veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War will be gradually increased by 30,000 to 50,000 KRW depending on the recipient. Those aged 80 and above will see their monthly allowance rise from the current 130,000 KRW to 155,000 KRW in 2025 and 180,000 KRW in 2026. Those aged 65 to 79 will have their allowance increased from 100,000 KRW to 115,000 KRW in 2025 and 130,000 KRW in 2026. Recipients of veterans' benefits will see their monthly allowance increase from 50,000 KRW to 65,000 KRW in 2025 and 80,000 KRW in 2026.

Applications for the allowance can be submitted starting January 2 of next year by preparing an application form, identification card, national merit certificate, and a copy of the bankbook, and submitting them to the local administrative welfare center of the applicant's address. Applicants must reside in Gwangju and be registered as residents as of the application date. Those already receiving other veterans' honorariums will not receive duplicate payments.

Existing recipients do not need to submit a separate application form, and the allowance will be deposited into the bank account provided by the applicant on the 25th of each month.

Mayor Kang Gi-jung emphasized, “We will uphold the value of patriotism and veterans' respect and embrace the lives of veterans' families. The freedom and prosperity we enjoy today are possible because of the noble sacrifices of our patriotic ancestors and national heroes. We will do our best to provide appropriate respect for their sacrifices and contributions to the country and to pass on their spirit to future generations.”

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