Politics · South Korea · 17 hrs ago
South Korean military appointed 33,300 new noncommissioned officers in five years
South Korea’s military appointed 33,300 new noncommissioned officers from 2021 to 2025, against a plan for 50,600.
That left a shortfall of 17,300 people, and the number appointed fell well below the annual target in each of the past three years.
The Army accounted for 12,800 of the missing appointments, or about 74% of the total shortfall.
It appointed 19,000 against a five-year target of 31,800.
The military’s yearly targets reflect how many new noncommissioned officers it believes it needs, so falling short means fewer are available for assignment to units.
The Army plans to increase the share of new noncommissioned officers selected for long-term service, reaching 100% by 2028.
It is also raising basic pay, including plans to bring junior sergeants’ average monthly pay to about 3 million won next year.
South Korea’s military commissioned 33,300 noncommissioned officers from 2021 through 2025, reaching 65.8% of its recruitment plan.
The shortfall was 17,300 compared with the planned 50,600.
The annual commissioning rate fell to around half of plan in each of the last three years covered.
The Army had the largest shortfall, commissioning 19,000 against a plan of 31,800.
The military is expanding long-term service selection and raising pay for junior officers.
- Who
- South Korea’s military commissioned 33,300 noncommissioned officers.
- What
- The total was 65.8% of the military’s plan for 2021–2025.
- When
- From 2021 through 2025.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The situation in which the military has been unable to recruit even half of the planned new noncommissioned officers for three years is continuing, signaling not a temporary phenomenon but a structural crisis.
The pay, promotion, working conditions and service period of junior officers should be carefully reviewed and redesigned.
The military commissioned noncommissioned officers at 88.5% of its plan.
The commissioning rate was 81.4% of plan.
The rate fell to 57.3% of plan.
The rate fell further to 47.4% of plan.
The rate was 55.5% of plan.
- Total commissioned, 2021–2025
- 33,300
- Planned total, 2021–2025
- 50,600
- Overall commissioning rate
- 65.8%
- Army commissioned
- 19,000 against a plan of 31,800
- Army share of total shortfall
- 74%
Sources
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