Position Statement on "Full Recognition of Military Service Period for National Pension Enrollment … to Take Effect in 2027" (March 12, 2026)

Considerable debate may surround the question of whether it is appropriate to provide—entirely at the expense of public funds—a credit covering the full period of military service at a time when a sergeant's monthly salary has reached 2 million won.

Such a measure may have been justifiable in the era when a sergeant's monthly pay stood at 300,000 won;

however, given that wages are now approaching the level of the minimum wage,

a matching fund arrangement—whereby the government subsidizes a portion of pension contributions—

while maintaining the principle of individual contribution would appear to be the preferable approach.

(Related materials are appended.)

 

The government has decided to recognize the entire period of military service as qualifying enrollment time in the National Pension, effective 2027.

(Excerpt follows.)

According to the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee on the 12th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare reported this measure as part of its major policy implementation status at the plenary session of the standing committee held on the 10th.

The decision was made to substantially revamp the military service credit system so that young people who dedicate themselves to defending the country may receive higher pension benefits in old age.

The military service credit is a system that adds a portion of the time spent in military service to the recognized enrollment period in the National Pension.

The previously recognized period of only six months was extended to a maximum of twelve months beginning in January of this year through a legislative amendment enacted in 2025.

The government, not stopping there, decided to recognize the entire actual period of military service in order to ensure robust old-age security for younger generations.

https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0015953518?sid=102