Monthly salary of soldiers to be raised by 15 percent

By Jun Ji-hye

The government is planning to raise the monthly salary of soldiers by 15 percent, as well as increase the unit cost of meals by 5 percent in a bid to improve conditions for draftees.

“The monthly salary given to a corporal, for example, will be increased to 155,000 won from the current 135,000 won,” said the Ministry of National Defense in a statement, Thursday.

The government is also planning to provide those enlisted in general outpost (GOP) units with new bulletproof vests, along with building additional indoor gyms and basketball courts there.

The measures primarily focused on improving soldiers’ welfare were included in the government’s defense budget proposal for next year, in which it earmarked 37.6 trillion won ($36 billion). The money is up 5.2 percent compared to this year.

The moves followed mounting calls on the military to take appropriate steps to reform misconduct in barracks and guarantee the human rights of soldiers in the wake of recent tragedies, including a deadly shooting spree and a death caused by hazing.

A total of 26.3 trillion won, up by 4.8 percent compared with this year, was allocated to address those concerns.

“Medical evacuation helicopters will be increased to six from current three,” the statement said. “Closed-circuit televisions will be also set up in hardship units such as medical corps or GOPs.”

The government plans to submit its proposal to the National Assembly on Sept. 23 after discussing it at the Cabinet meeting.

In June, a sergeant identified only by his surname Lim went on a deadly shooting spree, killing five soldiers and wounding seven with a K-2 assault rifle at the Army’s 22nd Infantry Division, whose jurisdiction includes the eastern coast bordering the North.

The incident sparked controversy over whether the Army has provided soldiers in the GOP units, who are offered live ammunition, with proper bulletproof vests.

The accident also raised questions about whether Lim was bullied by his colleagues, as he has argued that a prior assault by an officer was partly to blame for his actions.

The death of a private first-class, identified as Yoon of the Army’s 28th Division, added fuel to the controversy over inhumane treatment carried out in barracks. He died in April after a month of physical, mental and verbal abuse at the hands of his colleagues. The incident was made public at the end of July.

“The increased budget will be also used to remodel old-fashioned barracks of the 22nd and 28th divisions,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, a total of 11.1 trillion won would be allocated, up by 6.2 percent year on year, in an effort to improve defense capacity.

“The money will reflect the ministry’s bid to establish the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system and also the Kill Chain amid growing threats from Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and missiles,” it said.

The so-called Kill Chain is a pre-emptive missile destruction system designed to detect and strike the communist regime’s missile and nuclear facilities.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye