Starting Salaries for Junior Officers to Reach KRW 40 Million by 2029

Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea

Date : 2026-02-27

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visits a Guard Post (GP) for the first time since taking office.

Listens to service members’ working conditions and concerns and orders improvements.

“Watertight readiness posture to repay public trust”

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visited guard posts (GPs) and general outposts (GOPs) of the 25th Infantry Division on the central frontline on February 15 during the Lunar New Year holidays. There, he encouraged soldiers performing security operations and inspected the military’s readiness posture.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, on his first visit to GPs since taking office, met with soldiers and listened attentively to their accounts of service conditions and concerns. He personally inspected the extremely cramped conditions of the bunk-bed style barracks in the GP. He directed the relevant department to immediately review and act on suggestions for facility repairs and environmental improvements raised on-site.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated, “Frontline service demands extraordinary sacrifices that no one else can shoulder, and improving the harsh GP conditions is the least we owe our soldiers for their unique devotion to the Republic of Korea.” He emphasized, “Your round-the-clock vigilance enables the public to enjoy peaceful holidays with full trust in our forces.” He urged soldiers to “repay that public trust through a watertight readiness posture without any gaps.”

Regarding the goal of increasing salaries for officers, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated, “We will work closely with fiscal authorities to reflect basic pay increases in the 2027 budget, aiming to raise the starting annual pay for junior officers (second lieutenants and sergeants) to approximately KRW 40 million by 2029, a level comparable to entry-level salaries at mid-sized enterprises.”

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back concluded by urging soldiers, “The public remains safe and secure only because you steadfastly perform your mission amid harsh cold and tension.” He further urged them to have a strong sense of mission, stressing that “your perseverance and efforts not only serve as a stepping stone for your personal growth but also play a crucial role in safeguarding the safety and happiness of 52 million people.”

By Byeong-No, Yun