The national compensation system for young people who are injured or develop illnesses during military service will be significantly strengthened. Plans are being pursued to expand insurance coverage for accidents and diseases occurring during service, and to ease the economic burden of treating aftereffects even after discharge.

The government, working jointly with relevant ministries, has drawn up the 'Policy Improvement Plan for Young People in Military Service' to reduce the physical and economic disadvantages young servicemembers may face while fulfilling their military duty. This policy concretizes the matters discussed at the third Youth Policy Ministers' Meeting on June 9, and was finalized at the 13th National Policy Coordination Meeting after consultations among the relevant ministries.

Introduction of Public Injury Insurance Covering All Enlisted Soldiers

The most notable change is the introduction of public injury insurance for soldiers in mandatory service. Injuries or illnesses during military service have so far been covered through free treatment at military medical institutions and compensation systems under related laws. However, problems have been raised that limitations in accessibility to treatment facilities and the scope of compensation make it difficult to fully compensate for actual damages.

Some local governments have operated their own injury insurance for young men in military service to fill this gap. But because the implementation of programs and coverage items varied by region, benefits available differed depending on residence even in identical situations. In a satisfaction survey on military injury insurance conducted by Gyeonggi Province in the second half of 2025, 88% of respondents said they were satisfied, and 95% supported expanding the system nationwide.

To resolve these regional disparities, the government has decided to introduce group injury insurance covering all soldiers in mandatory service, including active-duty soldiers and full-time reserve forces. The Ministry of National Defense will work with the Postal Service Headquarters of the Ministry of Science and ICT to design insurance products that take public interest into account.

Inclusion of Consolation Payments for Mental Illness… Expanded Coverage

The coverage will include various injuries and illnesses occurring during military service. In particular, the system will be designed to include not only diagnosis payments for fractures or bodily amputations but also consolation payments for mental illnesses. It is meaningful in that the compensation system, previously focused on physical injuries, is being extended to mental health issues.

Accidents during military life are not limited to trauma from training or work. Illnesses related to service conditions and mental difficulties can also affect young people's health and return to daily life. The government intends to broadly cover these risks at the national level to reduce situations where soldiers cannot receive appropriate medical services due to treatment cost burdens.

Post-Discharge Indemnity Insurance… Treatment Costs Covered Without Proving Causation

Medical cost support after discharge will also be strengthened. Considering cases where aftereffects appear or treatment continues after completing military service, the government will pursue the introduction of separate indemnity insurance. Notably, the plan includes allowing aftereffect treatment costs to be covered even without directly proving causation between military service and the illness during post-discharge treatment.

This measure reflects the fact that health problems arising during service can persist over time. The aim is to improve the compensation system so that individuals are not left in a blind spot of medical cost support simply because they have completed their military service.

Youth Policy Participation Age Extended by Up to 6 Years

The problem of reduced opportunities to participate in youth policies due to military service has also been targeted for improvement. The government will pursue extending the eligible age for youth support programs by one to up to six years by reflecting the period of military service when applying age criteria. The goal is to create institutional conditions so that young people can secure opportunities to participate in youth policies even if their timing for job preparation, entrepreneurship, or entry into society is delayed by military service.

It has been pointed out that eligibility for youth support programs is sometimes determined by age criteria, potentially placing those who fulfilled military duty at a relative disadvantage. This improvement plan focuses on reducing such disparities and policy-wise compensating for the time burden of military service.

Details Such as Premiums and Implementation Timeline to Be Determined Later

However, specific coverage amounts, premium burden structures, and implementation timelines for the injury insurance and post-discharge indemnity insurance must be confirmed through detailed system design.

The government's measure draws attention in that it expands support for young men in military service beyond in-service pay and welfare levels to health rights and post-discharge opportunities for entry into society. How broadly the coverage scope, application procedures, and medical cost payment standards will be established in the actual implementation process is expected to be a key task going forward.

[This article was written for informational purposes to introduce the government's policy improvement plan for young people in military service. Detailed support targets, coverage scope, and implementation schedules may change depending on follow-up measures by relevant ministries. Actual insurance application and support eligibility must be confirmed against the government's final implementation standards. AI assisted in part.]