How Much Do Korean Military Conscripts Make Each Month in Pay?
If South Korea’s conscripts get paid minimum wage this will probably lead eventually to a major push to professionalize the force and do away with mandatory service:
Both the public and the government are increasingly aware of soldiers’ right to due monetary compensation, shifting away from considering military service as a statutory civic duty without adequate financial return, experts say.
“There’s the growing public understanding that we can no longer urge soldiers to serve active duty out of their allegiance or commitment to the country,” said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University.
Besides, the intense debate regarding the legal minimum wage here has had an impact, he said.
“We’ve recently had and continue to see a heated debate about setting the minimum wage, and while doing that, I think, we’ve come across the military sector as well — whether conscripted soldiers are paid right doing what they do.”
Starting this year, sergeants will receive an increased monthly stipend of 540,900 won ($466). Corporals and privates will receive slightly less. The hike marks a 33 percent on-year jump.
That is about 40 percent of the country’s minimum monthly wage in 2017.
Korea Herald
You can read more at the link.
This is Byeongjang pay – the pay for conscripts with the 4 stripes. Anyway, there’s a better table on this site that has the percentage of pay increases for conscripts by rank. The left side is the lowest rank (one stripe) and the right side is Byeongjang – with four stripes.
https://hodorison.tistory.com/230
I would translate Byeongjang as “specialist” one stripe (PVT), two stripe(PV2), three stripe (PFC), four stripe (SPC).
So, basically, we need to pay our privates are making 1/4 of minimum wage given a minimum wage of 1,822,480 per month for a 40 hour work week.
the article is saying “we need to pay our privates who are making 1/4 of minimum wage more” – to make being a conscript more attractive?
Do they include room/board/training costs? Paid vacation? Seems like “Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University” is actually a Nork agitprop specialist…
Korea always getting by on the cheap since daddy warbucks is here. Long overdue that South Korea see after their own defense.
Flyingsword, I’m all with you there. Why don’t the US give back command and control to South Korea military, pack up their suitcases, and leave Korea? South Korea does not need the US military anymore. South Korea does not even need to purchase US weapons anymore either. South Korea can make any weapons that the US makes and sells with ripoff prices and gapjil attitude towards after-service or service agreements. I totally agree with you South Korea needs to defend their own land, and do away with supporting American economic/military interests.