Ministry of Defense Pushes for Improvement of Front Line Guard Posts

The Ministry of Defense announced on June 24 that a Guard Post (GP) improvement and inspection team will be in operation to improve the poor working environment at frontline GPs as demonstrated by the recent shooting rampage incident.

A source in the ministry said, “The GP improvement and inspection team will examine the frontline GPs including the one where the incident happened. Based on the results, experts and architects, both civilian and military, will start projects to modernize GPs.”

The ministry is currently reviewing an option to remodel and improve restrooms and gyms of about 80 frontline GPs to ease the stress that new generation servicemen and women may have due to their poor environment.

In the meantime, the military confirmed that the eight soldiers who were killed by the shooting spree died on duty and asked the ministry to deliberate the case.

With the final confirmation from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the bereaved family of First Lieutenant Kim Jong-myeong will be entitled to 1.31 million won a month in an army pension and 58.7 million won in compensation.

Each family of the seven other soldiers killed in this incident will reportedly be entitled to around 700,000 won a month in an army pension and 36 million won in compensation.

The ministry said that it would provide survivors with mental health treatment to help them overcome psychological trauma. It also decided to allow soldiers to transfer to other units if they want and if circumstances allow, depending on the progress of treatment. The ministry is also considering granting soldiers special leaves of absence after medical treatment.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com