"Endless Promotion Omission, Discharge After One Day as Sergeant"... Military Parents Solidarity Erupts in Anger

Questions Raised Over Standards, Fairness, and Equity
Military Experts: "Lack of Public Consultation"

Members of the 'Gunin Adul Sarang Cafe' held a press conference on the 11th at the Gangwon Provincial Government Office in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, claiming that "the current promotion system for soldiers may cause infinite promotion omissions for enlisted soldiers" and are urging its immediate abolition. Yonhap News

Parents of military personnel are raising concerns about the Ministry of National Defense's plan to "strengthen the operation of the soldier promotion system," warning of the possibility of infinite promotion omissions and calling for its complete abolition.

On August 11, the Soldiers' Parents Solidarity held a press conference in the briefing room of the Gangwon Provincial Government Office, stating, "We strongly urge the Ministry of National Defense to immediately abolish the system of infinite promotion omissions for enlisted soldiers." They argued that the sudden change in training, which abolished the automatic promotion system and introduced the possibility of infinite promotion omissions, is a clear flaw in the policy.

The Parents Solidarity argued, "If a soldier is discharged at the rank of corporal, they will have to start their civilian life with the dishonor of 'discharged as a corporal' on their resume, which constitutes a serious human rights violation."

Previously, the Ministry of National Defense revised the personnel management regulations for soldiers to introduce a screening process for promotions. Until now, soldiers were automatically promoted after serving a certain number of months. Only in exceptional cases, for specific reasons, could promotion be delayed for up to two months.

However, under the revised system, soldiers who fail the promotion screening could remain at the rank of private first class or corporal until just before discharge, experiencing the rank of sergeant for only a single day before leaving the military. As concerns have been raised about the possibility of "rank reversal" between junior and senior soldiers, and as criticism of the revision has mounted from various sectors, the Ministry of National Defense has temporarily suspended the implementation of the system and is conducting a comprehensive review.

Nevertheless, the Parents Solidarity maintains that the revision should be immediately scrapped, not merely reviewed. They pointed out, "There are no clear criteria for the application of the system, and the promotion screening process lacks fairness and equity." They further argued, "Given the high conscription rate that requires even those with grades 3 and 4 to serve, it is contradictory to use physical fitness assessments as grounds for promotion omission."

They added, "If a junior is promoted before a senior, it could create discord among soldiers, and considering the impact on morale and self-esteem of those omitted from promotion, complete abolition?not just a comprehensive review?is the appropriate course of action."

Professor Kiil Choi of the Department of Military Science at Sangji University is speaking at a press conference urging the abolition of "military promotion omission" held at the Gangwon Provincial Government Office in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

Professor Kiil Choi of the Department of Military Science at Sangji University, who attended the press conference, also stated, "Many military experts and academics expressed surprise at the news of the regulation revision," and explained, "There was no sufficient public hearing or process for gathering opinions in advance." He continued, "It is unreasonable for the Ministry of National Defense to conscript soldiers under strict health standards or to fail to provide systematic physical management after enlistment, while seeking to omit promotions," and added, "The focus should be on measures to mitigate negative side effects of the system, such as encouraging early promotion for outstanding personnel."