As at 2024, the monthly wage of a private second class, the lowest rank in the South Korean military, from which conscripted soldiers start, is 640,000 won (US$470). - AFP
SEOUL: A young man who enlisted to serve another man’s mandatory military service on condition of sharing the soldier’s salary has been caught by the authorities.
This is the first time such an incident has occurred since the establishment of the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) in 1970.
The man, surnamed Jo and in his late 20s, has been arrested and indicted for several violations.
He obstructed the performance of official duties by faking his identity to enlist as another person, said the Chuncheon District Court on Tuesday (Oct 15).
Investigators found that Jo had agreed to take the place of another man, who is in his early 20s, as a conscripted soldier, enlisting as a new recruit at a training centre in Gangwon Province in July.
The man, who is known as Choi, met Jo online and agreed that they would share the wages paid under Choi’s name.
Lack of a proper identification check led to Jo serving for nearly three months before Choi turned himself in, in September.
Choi, while not under arrest, is currently under investigation for his part in the crime.
Jo said he agreed to serve in place of Choi because the military provides food, shelter and clothing, and also because the salary for a conscripted soldier is much higher than in the past.
It was found that he was discharged from his own military service years ago due to mental health issues.
As at 2024, the monthly wage of a private second class – the lowest rank in the South Korean military, from which conscripted soldiers start – is 640,000 won (US$470).
While this amount is significantly less than the minimum wage, it is about five times the 129,400 won the soldiers were paid in 2015.
In the light of the incident, MMA vowed to apply a stricter identification verification process.
It is mulling over the adoption of biometric data for accurate identification of the enlistee, such as iris recognition.
South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve in the military for at least 18 months. - The Korea Herald/ANN
