Budget rises 8% from this year; compensation for veterans to increase 5%
Ministry to prepare for 2029 World Disabled Military Games
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans announced Wednesday that it has drawn up a 2027 budget proposal of 7.22 trillion won ($5.26 billion), saying the plan aims to "build a compensation system befitting extraordinary sacrifice and elevate national standing through K-veterans affairs." The proposed budget represents an increase of 532 billion won, or 8 percent, from this year.
The ministry said it will focus on five priority areas: raising and expanding compensation payments while narrowing compensation gaps, expanding veterans healthcare and improving access, transforming national cemeteries, advancing global K-veterans diplomacy to enhance national standing, and rolling out public-engagement programs for veterans recognition and culture developed with citizen input.
Under the plan, compensation payments for national merit holders will rise 5 percent, while the combat veterans honor allowance, military merit honor allowance and April 19 Revolution contribution allowance will each increase by 50,000 won.
On top of the baseline increase, compensation for surviving independence patriots will rise an additional 5 percent, and payments to bereaved families of independence merit holders will increase an additional 3 percent. The eligible range of bereaved family members for independence merit holders will also be expanded starting next year to cover at least two generations, bringing new support to roughly 2,500 people.
The age threshold for contracted hospital support for priority next-of-kin receiving compensation as independence merit holders, national merit holders or veterans compensation recipients will be lowered by 10 years, from 75 to 65. The ministry will also support the early establishment of quasi-veterans hospitals in Gangwon Province and Jeju, which have no dedicated veterans hospitals, and significantly expand the network of contracted medical institutions so that elderly veterans can receive care conveniently close to home.
The ministry also confirmed that South Korea will host the 2029 World Disabled Military Games — the first time the event will be held in Asia — and said it will move forward with launching an organizing committee and other preparatory structures. The scale of invitations for return visits by UN war veterans and others will be expanded 1.5 times, laying the groundwork for veterans diplomacy.
In addition, the ministry will operate a steering committee to redevelop the Hyochang Park area into Hyochang National Independence Park — a space where everyday life, culture and veterans commemoration coexist — by 2029. The country's 12 national cemeteries will be upgraded with stronger eco-friendly features and safety management to improve convenience for bereaved families, with a vision of making them welcoming spaces for veterans culture and recognition in the daily lives of the general public.
The budget also includes flagship veterans recognition and culture projects developed through a public participatory budgeting process — among them a private-sector partnership initiative to build a veterans culture ecosystem with youth content creators, a project marking the 40th anniversary of the Independence Hall built with public donations, and an eco-friendly national cemetery development project.
"The 2027 budget proposal is the fruit of the government's firm resolve to more warmly embrace and honor the heroes who devoted their youth and lives for the country, and their families," Veterans Minister Kwon O-eul said. "We will do our utmost to make this an opportunity to build a special compensation and healthcare system for veterans families, and to cultivate a spirit of love for the country in the everyday lives of the people."
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