Geochang County Council Chair Pyo Jisuk's Youth Enlistment Grant Ordinance Bears Fruit

Ordinance sponsored by Chairperson Pyo passes unanimously... KRW 100,000 enlistment grants for young people begin
Leads efforts to formalize recognition for young people fulfilling military service... "We must build a society that respects service to the nation"

The ordinance supporting enlistment grants for young people, sponsored by Pyo Jisuk, chairperson of the Geochang County Council in South Gyeongsang Province, has led to an actual support program, expanding recognition and assistance for local young people fulfilling their military service obligations.

The program is particularly significant because, while serving as a council member, Pyo raised the need for greater community interest in and institutional support for young people fulfilling their military service obligations, then sponsored the ordinance herself to establish a legal basis for such support.

[Photo provided by Geochang County Council] Pyo Joosook, then chair of the Geochang County Council, speaks at a plenary session of the 292nd extraordinary session in March 2026, while serving as a council member. The “Ordinance on Providing Enlistment Support Payments in Geochang County,” introduced by Pyo, was passed in its original form at a plenary session on March 25.

Since July 1, 2026, Geochang County has been providing enlistment grants of KRW 100,000 per person in Geochang Sarang Gift Certificates to local young people enlisting for active duty or as social service personnel.

The ordinance underpinning the support program was sponsored by Pyo, then a council member and now the council chairperson, at the 292nd extraordinary session of the Geochang County Council last April, and was passed with the unanimous support of all council members.

In sponsoring the ordinance, Chairperson Pyo focused on establishing an institutional foundation for local governments to offer encouragement and support to young people fulfilling their military service obligations.

Military service obligations have traditionally been viewed as a responsibility of the state. However, the ordinance reflects the view that local governments should also play a role in supporting young people who grew up in their communities as they enlist for military service.

It is also noteworthy that Pyo, a woman serving on the county council, took an interest in recognizing young people as they fulfill their military service obligations and pursued the enactment of the ordinance. The ordinance reflects the aim of fostering an atmosphere in which the community encourages and respects them, rather than leaving the fulfillment of military service obligations solely to individuals.

The unanimous support for the ordinance during its enactment shows that the county council reached a consensus on the need to support young people fulfilling their military service obligations.

Under the ordinance, Geochang County is now operating an enlistment grant program. Those eligible are people required to fulfill their military service obligations who have been registered residents of Geochang County and have continuously lived there for at least one year as of the application date.

The grant is a one-time payment of KRW 100,000 per person, issued in Geochang Sarang Gift Certificates, a local currency. Applicants can apply from the day they receive their enlistment notice until before enlistment by bringing their ID and enlistment notice to the administrative welfare center in the township or township-level area where they are registered as residents.

Those unable to apply before enlistment can apply while serving. Applications may also be submitted on an applicant's behalf by a member of the same household listed on their resident registration, their spouse, a lineal ascendant, or a sibling.

These application procedures are designed to make it easier for young people who may find it difficult to visit an administrative office in person while preparing for enlistment, and to expand eligible applicants' opportunities to apply for support.

Chairperson Pyo Jisuk said, "Young people who answer the nation's call and fulfill their military service obligations are valued members of our community, and their responsibility and dedication deserve due respect. Although the enlistment grant is not a large sum, it conveys the message that our community is cheering on young people as they embark on a new chapter."

She added, "When I sponsored the ordinance, my foremost priority was to create a social atmosphere in which young people who faithfully fulfill their military service obligations can take pride in themselves, going beyond simple financial assistance. Local councils also need to maintain an ongoing interest in and provide support for enabling young people to find a sense of purpose in their role in service to the nation."

She also said, "I believe a society that respects those who wear the uniform and dedicate themselves to the nation and its people is the foundation of a healthy community. I will continue to pursue practical legislative work that improves young people's rights and interests and strengthens recognition for those fulfilling their military service obligations."

The implementation of the ordinance has also drawn attention as an example of a policy sponsored by a local council member proceeding through a council vote and becoming an actual support program for residents.

By establishing the institutional basis for the program and enabling Geochang County to implement it, Chairperson Pyo's ordinance provides an example of the local council and county administration translating their respective roles into a concrete youth support policy.

Geochang County expects that issuing the enlistment grants in Geochang Sarang Gift Certificates will help ease some of the financial burden of preparing for enlistment while also encouraging spending within the county.

For the program to become firmly established, it will likely be necessary to adequately publicize it to eligible applicants, provide clear application guidance, and regularly review its implementation record.

Since Chairperson Pyo's sponsored ordinance has led to an actual youth support program, the number of grants provided and how young people fulfilling their military service obligations perceive the policy are expected to serve as measures of its success.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.