The Ministry of National Defense announced Tuesday that it will resume paying retirement benefits to military personnel who retired before December 31, 1959, and have not yet received their benefits.
Eligible recipients are veterans who served on active duty for at least two years between August 15, 1948, and December 31, 1959, and held a rank of master sergeant second class (now staff sergeant) or higher in the Army, or petty officer first class (now petty officer) or higher in the Navy at the time of their retirement before December 31, 1959.
These retirees did not receive retirement benefits at the time because the Military Pension Act had not yet been enacted. The act took effect in January 1960.
From 2005 through June 30 of last year, the Ministry of National Defense paid a total of 89.7 billion won (an average of 1.88 million won per person) to approximately 48,000 recipients before concluding the related operations.
However, with an estimated 14,000 additional beneficiaries expected — including those newly registered as persons of merit by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and recipients identified by the "Korean War Medal of Military Merit Recovery Investigation Team" — the related law was revised this February to resume payments.
Applications will be accepted until the 30th of next month. Veterans can apply in writing by mail through their respective service headquarters.
