South Korea faces an officer pay crisis as voluntary departures among junior military officers hit record levels. The situation threatens the stability of the armed forces’ personnel structure.
A Ministry of Defense survey showed more than half of university students would apply to become officers only if starting salaries reached 40 to 50 million won. The March survey covered 1,301 students across nine universities. Current first-year staff sergeants earn roughly 30 million won annually.
Experts link the officer pay crisis directly to rising resignations. In the first half of 2025, 2,869 officers and NCOs left active duty, more than double the 1,351 departures recorded in 2021. Notably, 86 percent of those leaving were mid-career personnel who form the backbone of frontline units.
Park Hyo-seon, a military studies professor at Cheongju University, said students avoid military careers “not because of the work, but because of insufficient compensation.”
A separate survey of 2,128 junior officers showed only 12 percent were satisfied with military service. Over 70 percent said they would join the private sector if possible.
At the Army’s development conference, attended by Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha, officials discussed urgent reforms. They considered models like the US Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, which adjusts pay to match civilian trends. Kim said the conference provided a “meaningful opportunity to examine compensation issues” and pledged to share recommendations with policymakers.
Salary expectations reflect broader labor market trends. Recruitment data shows 2025 graduates expect an average starting salary of 41.4 million won. Large companies offer up to 50 million won, while small firms provide about 33 million won.
South Korea’s entry-level officer pay also lags behind international standards. Basic pay for new US, Australian, Singaporean, UK, and German officers generally exceeds South Korea’s, even before allowances.
The government aims to raise first-year staff sergeant and second lieutenant pay to roughly 49–50 million won by 2027. However, the plan has yet to be fully implemented. Analysts warn that without action, the officer pay crisis will continue to undermine military effectiveness.
The officer pay crisis has become a critical challenge for military leadership. Policymakers must act quickly to retain qualified personnel and maintain operational stability.
