Active duty soldiers with children to receive childrearing allowance

Beginning next year, active duty soldiers and full-time reservists with a child will be paid 200,000 won (178 U.S. dollars) per month. The measure has been taken as part of the government’s efforts to help promote childbirth, and will benefit more than 800 people. The monthly salary for soldiers will also increase from 154,800 won (138 dollars) for a corporal to 178,000 won (159 dollars).

According to the Defense Ministry on Wednesday, it has submitted budget request to this effect for next year to the Strategy and Finance Ministry. The defense budget will surpass 40 trillion won (35.8 billion dollars) for the first time, up 7.2 percent (2.68 trillion won or 2.4 billion dollars) from this year (37.45 trillion won or 33.5 billion dollars). The budget for operation of combat forces will amount to 27.76 trillion won (24.83 billion dollars), while the budget for improving defense capability will stand at 12.38 trillion won (11 billion dollars).

The overall budget also includes 700 million won (625,950 dollars) earmarked for attaching the Korean national flag, Taegeukgi, on soldiers’ uniforms. This measure is being taken to boost a sense of pride among soldiers by having them wear uniforms with Taegeukgi and represent the Republic of Korea.

The budget for constructing Kill Chain and Korea Air Missile Defense systems designed to cope with North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat amounts to 1.57 trillion won (1.400 billion dollars), up 600 billion won (537 million dollars) from this year.

An allowance of 60,000 won (53.7 dollars) will be paid to servicemen who are deployed to frontline guideposts within the Demilitarized Zone. Soldiers’ health checkup will include AIDS infection test. All soldiers will get free vaccination against measles, hepatitis A, tetanus, and meningococcal infections. A new model of winter shoes with anti-biotic, anti-scent functions will also been supplied to soldiers.

ysh1005@donga.com