Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun holds meeting with veterans groups

Disability grade-7 compensation to rise 8.5%; medical fee waivers extended to age 65

Contracted hospitals to reach 2,000 by 2030; support for new facilities in Gangwon Province and Jeju

Ministry of Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun speaks at a meeting with veterans organizations held at the National Assembly members' office building in Seoul on Monday afternoon. [Ministry of Planning and Budget]
Ministry of Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun speaks at a meeting with veterans organizations held at the National Assembly members' office building in Seoul on Monday afternoon. [Ministry of Planning and Budget]

The government has set next year's veterans affairs budget at 7.22 trillion won ($5.4 billion), an 8.0 percent increase from this year, with plans to raise compensation for national merit holders by 5 percent, increase combat service allowances by 50,000 won and lower the age threshold for medical fee waivers for bereaved families of veterans.

Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun outlined the 2027 veterans budget proposal Monday at a meeting with leaders of veterans organizations at the National Assembly members' office building in Seoul.

The proposed budget represents an increase of 532 billion won from this year's 6.69 trillion won. The 8.0 percent growth rate surpasses the average annual increase of 3.3 percent recorded over the previous five years from 2022 to 2026.

The government plans to raise compensation for national merit holders by 5 percent, with an additional 3.5 percentage points applied to those with a grade-7 disability rating to help narrow compensation gaps — bringing their total increase to 8.5 percent. Combat service honor allowances and merit-related stipends will also rise by 50,000 won.

Medical support measures focus on lowering barriers to access and improving regional availability. The budget proposal lowers the age at which the primary next of kin of independence merit holders, national merit holders and veterans compensation recipients can receive fee reductions at contracted hospitals — from the current 75 to 65.

The government also plans to expand the network of private hospitals designated as contracted veterans facilities, adding 200 per year to reach a total of 2,000 by 2030. Newly designated quasi-veterans hospitals in Gangwon Province and Jeju, set to receive their first designations this year, will receive support for medical equipment to help them become established quickly.

Monday's meeting was the third veterans-related forum Park has convened, following sessions with May 18 organizations in May and the Korean Liberation Association in July. Attendees included Kim Jeong-gyu, chairman of the Order of Military Merit Recipients Association; Park Man-jo, vice chairman of the Agent Orange Veterans Association; and Shin Sang-tae, chairman of the Korea Veterans Association.

The veterans group leaders expressed gratitude for the expanded support in the proposed budget while calling for measures to enhance the recognition of aging Korean War veterans and improvements to the operating environment for their organizations.

Park said the nation's development was built on the dedication and sacrifice of veterans group members, and pledged to fulfill the state's responsibilities and obligations to ensure "appropriate compensation and treatment commensurate with their extraordinary sacrifice." He added that the ministry would work to develop veterans policies that people on the ground can more tangibly feel through the National Assembly's budget review and legislative processes.


fact0514@heraldcorp.com